cardiovascular disease

Study Questions Cardioprotective Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Consumption

A recent meta-analysis found little support for the idea that moderate alcohol consumption has cardioprotective effects.

Previous research has indicated a potential relationship between alcohol consumption and lower coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, but potential study errors including selection bias could be behind this notion, according to the researchers.
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For their study, they examined data from 45 prospective studies of alcohol consumption and CHD mortality. Fully adjusted meta-analysis of all of the studies showed a significantly reduced CHD mortality in current low-volume drinkers (relative risk 0.80) and in all current drinkers (relative risk 0.88).

In stratified analyses, however, low-volume consumption was not significantly protective for individuals 55 years old or younger at baseline, in studies controlling for heart health, or in higher quality studies. In studies in which the mean age was 55 years or younger at baseline, relative risks were significantly higher in former and occasional drinkers compared with abstainers.

“Pooled analysis of all identified studies suggested an association between alcohol use and reduced CHD risk. However, this association was not observed in studies of those age 55 years or younger at baseline, in higher quality studies, or in studies that controlled for heart health. The appearance of cardio-protection among older people may reflect systematic selection biases that accumulate over the life course.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Zhao J, Stockwell T, Roemer A, Naimi T, Chikritzhs T. Alcohol consumption and mortality from coronary heart disease: an updated meta-analysis of cohort studies [published online May 2017]. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2017.78.375.