Myocardial infarction and alcohol consumption: a population-based case-control study

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in industrialized societies. Identifying and characterizing modifiable variables associated with CHD is an important issue for health policy. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of non-fatal myocardial infarction with total alcohol consumption and type of alcoholic beverage consumed. Preference of the subjects' consumption for beer, wine, or spirits was set at 80% or more of total alcoholic beverage consumption.

A population-based case-control study (244 subjects and 1270 controls) was conducted. Male patients aged 25 to 74 years with first myocardial infarction (MI) were recruited in the same region as the healthy male controls, who were taken from a random sample representative of the Gerona population. Alcoholic beverage consumption during the preceding week was recorded. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of alcohol consumption and non-fatal MI. Total alcohol consumption up to 30 g per day, adjusted for lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, was inversely associated (Odds ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.36) with the risk of non-fatal MI. Drinking up to 20 g of alcohol through wine, beer and spirits significantly decreased the adjusted risk of MI. Higher alcohol intake did not substantially reduce the risk. A preference for spirits was correlated with a significantly increased risk of non-fatal MI (P<0.05).

Moderate alcohol consumption, independent of the type of alcoholic beverage, was associated with non-fatal MI risk reduction.