Alcohol consumption and risk of ischemic heart disease in women.

May 24, 1993Archives of internal medicine

Alcohol use and risk of blocked arteries in women

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Abstract

Women reporting any amount of alcohol use had about a 20% decrease in risk of ischemic heart disease incidence compared with abstainers.

A total of 884 cases of ischemic heart disease (IHD) were identified during a mean follow-up of 13 years.
The relative risk of IHD remained largely unchanged after adjusting for known cardiovascular risk factors.
The greatest risk reduction (36% to 39%) was observed among women consuming about half to two drinks per day.
Moderate alcohol use is associated with a decreased risk of IHD in women aged 45 to 74 years.

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BACKGROUND: Most studies suggest that alcohol use decreases the risk of coronary heart disease in men, however, this association has not been well established in women.

METHOD: This study investigates the relationship between alcohol use and ischemic heart disease (IHD) incidence among women aged 45 to 74 years in the Epidemiologic Follow-up Study of the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The cohort was free of heart disease at baseline. During the follow-up period (mean, 13 years), 884 IHD cases were identified through hospital records, reported hospital stays, or death certificates.

RESULTS: Women reporting any amount of alcohol use had about a 20% decrease in risk of IHD incidence compared with abstainers. Using a Cox regression model to adjust for known cardiovascular risk factors, this relative risk of IHD remained essentially unchanged. The greatest reduction in the risk of IHD (36% to 39%) was among women who consumed about half to two drinks per day compared with abstainers.

CONCLUSIONS: This study of a nationally representative sample with a mean follow-up of 13 years and a substantial number of IHD cases suggests that moderate alcohol use decreases the risk of IHD. However, the risk and benefits of moderate alcohol consumption need to be viewed within a broader perspective especially since the potentially harmful effects of alcohol have been well documented.

Alcohol consumption and risk of ischemic heart disease in women.

Abstract

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