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Alcohol consumption and lower extremity arterial disease among older adults: the cardiovascular health study

Kenneth J Mukamal1, Margaret Kennedy, Mary Cushman

  • 1Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02446, USA. kmukamal@bidmc.harvard.edu

American Journal of Epidemiology
|November 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Moderate alcohol consumption (1-13 drinks weekly) may reduce the risk of lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in older adults. However, heavier drinking does not offer this protective effect against LEAD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Vascular Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a significant vascular condition, particularly in older adults.
  • Limited research exists on the longitudinal relationship between alcohol consumption and LEAD, incorporating clinical events and objective measures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between different levels of alcohol intake and the incidence of lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in a cohort of older adults.
  • To examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and changes in the ankle-brachial index (ABI) over time.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 5,635 older adults from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
  • Yearly assessment of alcohol consumption (beer, wine, spirits) and identification of incident LEAD through hospitalization surveillance.
  • Measurement of ankle-brachial index (ABI) at baseline and 6 years later in 2,298 participants.

Main Results:

  • A J-shaped association was observed between alcohol intake and LEAD risk (p for quadratic trend = 0.04).
  • Consumption of 1-13 alcoholic drinks per week was associated with a reduced risk of LEAD (Hazard Ratio: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33-0.95) compared to abstention.
  • Changes in ABI over time showed a similar pattern related to alcohol consumption (p for quadratic trend = 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Moderate alcohol consumption (1-13 drinks/week) may be associated with a lower risk of developing lower-extremity arterial disease in older adults.
  • Higher alcohol consumption (≥14 drinks/week) was not associated with a reduced risk of LEAD.
  • The findings suggest a potential protective effect of moderate alcohol intake on vascular health concerning LEAD, independent of lipids or inflammatory markers.

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