Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Alcohol consumption and risk for coronary heart disease among men with hypertension
Joline W J Beulens1, Eric B Rimm, Alberto Ascherio
1Harvard School of Public Health, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. J.Beulens@umcutrecht.nl
Insights
Moderate alcohol consumption may lower myocardial infarction risk in men with hypertension. This study suggests that moderate, safe drinking habits may not need changing for hypertensive men. Keywords: alcohol consumption, hypertension, myocardial infarction risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
- Alcohol and Public Health
Background:
- Heavy alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Limited data exist on the relationship between alcohol intake and CVD in hypertensive individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and CVD risk in men with hypertension.
- To determine if moderate alcohol intake influences myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke risk in this population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 11,711 men with hypertension from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
- Alcohol consumption was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires every four years.
- Incident cases of nonfatal/fatal MI, coronary heart disease, and stroke were tracked from 1986 to 2002.
Main Results:
- Moderate alcohol consumption (10-49.9 g/day) was associated with a reduced risk of MI in men with hypertension.
- Higher alcohol intake (≥50 g/day) showed a significant decrease in MI risk (HR=0.41).
- Alcohol consumption was not linked to overall mortality or CVD-related death; however, increased stroke risk was observed at 10-29.9 g/day.
Conclusions:
- Moderate alcohol consumption is inversely associated with MI risk among men with hypertension.
- Current moderate and safe drinking patterns may not require modification for hypertensive men.
- Further research is needed to clarify stroke risk and confirm findings with objective measures.
Background:
Heavy alcohol consumption increases risk for hypertension, which is in itself a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data on the association between alcohol consumption and CVD among individuals with hypertension are scarce.
Objective:
To assess whether alcohol consumption is inversely associated with CVD among men with hypertension.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
United States.
Participants:
11,711 men with hypertension from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
Measurements:
Alcohol consumption was assessed every 4 years by using a food-frequency questionnaire. Incident cases of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), fatal coronary heart disease, and stroke were documented from 1986 to 2002.
Results:
During follow-up, 653 patients with MI were documented. Compared with patients abstaining from alcohol, the hazard ratio for participants with MI consuming 0.1 to 4.9 grams of alcohol per day was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.86 to 1.37); consuming 5 to 9.9 grams of alcohol per day was 0.81 (CI, 0.60 to 1.08 g/d); consuming 10 to 14.9 grams of alcohol per day was 0.68 (CI, 0.51 to 0.91 g/d); consuming 15 to 29.9 grams of alcohol per day was 0.72 (CI, 0.54 to 0.97 g/d); consuming 30 to 49.9 grams of alcohol per day was 0.67 (CI, 0.48 to 0.94 g/d); and consuming 50 or more grams of alcohol per day was 0.41 (CI, 0.22 to 0.77 g/d) (P < 0.001 for trend). Associations were similar for fatal and nonfatal MI. Alcohol consumption was not associated with total death or death due to CVD. Risks for total and ischemic stroke for patients consuming 10 to 29.9 g of alcohol per day were 1.40 (CI, 0.93 to 2.12) and 1.55 (CI, 0.90 to 2.68) compared with that of abstainers. When corrected for measurement error in alcohol consumption, dietary variables, and body mass index, the hazard ratio for participants with MI per 12.5 grams per day increment of alcohol intake was 0.68 (CI, 0.46 to 1.00).
Limitations:
Hypertension, alcohol consumption, and CVD risk factors were assessed by self-report. Available data used to correct for measurement error were primarily restricted to dietary variables.
Conclusions:
In this population of men with hypertension, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a decreased risk for MI but not with risks for total death or death due to CVD. As in the general population, men with hypertension who drink moderately and safely may not need to change their drinking habits.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:29Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management