The risk of acute myocardial infarction after stopping drinking
Eva Negri1, Carlo La Vecchia, Claudio Pelucchi
1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62-20157 Milano, Italy. evanegri@marionegri.it
Insights
Alcohol consumption is linked to a lower risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This protective effect may continue for years even after individuals stop drinking alcohol, suggesting potential long-term cardiovascular benefits.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Alcohol consumption research
- Public health
Background:
- Alcohol cessation is recommended for individuals at high risk of alcohol-related diseases.
- Alcohol drinkers exhibit a lower risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to abstainers.
- Limited data exist on how AMI risk changes after alcohol cessation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
- To examine the persistence of potential protective effects of alcohol drinking on AMI risk after cessation.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted between 1995 and 1999.
- Structured questionnaires were administered to 507 patients with nonfatal AMI and 478 control patients.
- Data were adjusted for age, sex, and other AMI risk factors.
Main Results:
- Current drinkers had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.56 for AMI compared to lifelong abstainers.
- Former drinkers had an adjusted OR of 0.65 for AMI.
- The OR for AMI among former drinkers varied by years since cessation, with some periods showing a reduced risk, though confidence intervals were wide.
Conclusions:
- The protective effect of alcohol consumption against AMI may persist for several years after cessation.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
- Findings suggest a potential long-term cardiovascular benefit associated with prior alcohol consumption.
Background:
Subjects at high risk of alcohol-related diseases may benefit from alcohol cessation. However, drinkers have a lower risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than abstainers, and there is very scanty information on how the risk changes after stopping drinking.
Methods:
Between 1995 and 1999, we administered a structured questionnaire to 507 cases (378 men, 129 women) with a first episode of nonfatal AMI and 478 control patients (297 men, 181 women) admitted to the same network of hospitals in the greater Milan area for acute conditions.
Results:
Compared to lifelong abstainers, the odds ratio (OR) adjusted for age, sex, and several AMI risk factors was 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.84) for current and 0.65 (95% CI 0.37-1.15) for former drinkers (48 cases and 44 controls). The OR was 2.10 (0.40-11.1) for having stopped since 1 year, 0.64 (95% CI 0.19-2.16) for 2-4 years, 0.46 (95% CI 0.18-1.20) for 5-14 years, and 0.78 (95% CI 0.27-2.27) for > or = 15 years.
Conclusions:
Although our data are too limited to draw any definite conclusion, they suggest that the protection of alcohol drinking against AMI may persist, at least in part, for several years after stopping.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:19Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
01:28Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
01:30Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations