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 506 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 consisting of carbonated water plus artificial sweeteners).