Alcohol consumption and atherosclerosis

A study was made of the material obtained in 737 autopsies carried out on men aged 30-69 years (including 88 visitors) who had died in Yalta from various diseases, accidents, and violence. Information on the consumption of alcohol was obtained by questioning the subjects' near relations, neighbours, and associates, as well as from medical records. The most reliable part of this information-the average number of days per month on which the subject consumed alcohol-was taken as the basic criterion for grouping the observations. People taking alcohol on 16 or more days per month had more extensive atherosclerotic raised lesions in the aorta than those drinking on not more than 3 days per month. This difference was most significant in the case of calcified lesions. Fatty streak in the aorta was more extensive in the medium group (drinking on 4-15 days per month) than in either of the extreme groups. As regards the coronary arteries, a significant difference positively associated with alcohol consumption was established only in the case of calcification. The few differences concerning myocardial and cerebral infarction had a negative association with alcohol consumption.