Bladder cancer and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Spain

The relationship between bladder cancer and alcohol consumption was investigated in a case-control study conducted in 546 patients (453 males and 53 females) with diagnoses of papillary urothelial carcinoma during 1978–1982 at La Paz hospital (Madrid), and an equal number of controls matched for age, sex and date of admission to the hospital. The results showed that the risk of bladder cancer does not increase with the intake of beer, wine and spirit beverages. However, a high risk of bladder cancer was associated with consumption of wine mixed with gaseosa (a refreshment beverage consisiting of carbonated water plus artificial sweeteners).