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Alcohol intake and blood pressure in young adults: the CARDIA Study
A R Dyer1, G R Cutter, K Q Liu
1Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill. 60614.
Insights
This study found that higher alcohol consumption is weakly linked to increased blood pressure in young adults. These associations, particularly with systolic pressure, were observed across different sexes and races, with some variations noted based on smoking status.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is a modifiable lifestyle factor with potential cardiovascular implications.
- Understanding the relationship between alcohol intake and blood pressure is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Previous research has indicated a link between alcohol and hypertension, but data in young adults across diverse populations is less defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-reported average daily alcohol intake and blood pressure levels.
- To examine these associations across different sex and race groups in young adults.
- To explore potential modifying effects of smoking status on the alcohol-blood pressure relationship.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 5031 black and white men and women aged 18-30 years from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.
- Self-reported average daily alcohol intake was categorized into multiple levels.
- Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) was assessed and analyzed in relation to alcohol intake, adjusted for covariates including age, body mass index, education, smoking, and physical activity.
Main Results:
- A positive, albeit weak, association was observed between alcohol intake and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Systolic blood pressure increased progressively with higher alcohol intake in black and white men and white women.
- Diastolic blood pressure showed a progressive increase with alcohol intake primarily in white men and women, and was highest in heavy drinkers across several groups; associations varied by sex and race, and potentially by smoking status.
Conclusions:
- Higher average daily alcohol consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure in young adults.
- The strength and pattern of this association differ by sex, race, and potentially smoking status.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring alcohol intake for cardiovascular health in young populations.
Abstract:
Associations between self-reported average daily alcohol intake and blood pressure were assessed in 5031 black and white men and women ages 18-30 from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA). In general, intake was positively but weakly related to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Associations with systolic pressure were generally stronger than those with diastolic pressure. With average daily alcohol intake categorized as none, 0.1-9.9 ml, 10.0-19.9 ml, 20.0-29.9 ml, and 30.0+ ml, mean systolic pressure, adjusted for age, body mass index, education, smoking, and physical activity, increased progressively with increasing intake in black and white men and in white women. Mean diastolic pressure increased progressively with increasing intake only in white men and women, but was highest for those averaging 30.0+ ml per day in black women as well as white men and women. Mean pressures were also compared for those averaging 75.0+ ml per day (men) or 50.0+ ml per day (women) vs those reporting no intake. Differences in adjusted mean pressures for white men were 3.2 mmHg (95% confidence limits (CL) -0.3, 6.8) for systolic pressure and 1.7 mmHg (-1.6, 5.0) for diastolic pressure. In black men differences were 4.4 mmHg (1.4, 7.4) and 3.4 mmHg (0.6, 6.3), respectively. Differences in white women were 1.4 mmHg (-2.5, 5.3) for systolic pressure and 0.9 mmHg (-2.7, 4.5) for diastolic pressure and for black women, -0.2 mmHg (-4.3, 3.8) and 1.9 mmHg (-1.9, 5.8). Separate analyses in smokers and nonsmokers of the associations between alcohol intake and blood pressure suggested that associations may differ by smoking status in some sex-race groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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