Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis
Published on: November 8, 2024
Irregular heavy drinking occasions and risk of ischemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Michael Roerecke1, Jürgen Rehm
1Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Public Health and Regulatory Policies Section, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1. m.roerecke@web.de
Insights
Irregular heavy alcohol drinking occasions, even with moderate average intake, increase ischemic heart disease risk. This pattern negates potential benefits of regular moderate alcohol consumption on heart health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Alcohol Consumption Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Moderate regular alcohol consumption is often associated with cardioprotection.
- Emerging evidence suggests irregular heavy drinking occasions pose cardiovascular risks.
- The impact of binge drinking on ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between irregular heavy drinking occasions and ischemic heart disease risk.
- To determine if irregular heavy drinking negates the potential cardioprotective effects of moderate alcohol consumption.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of electronic databases (1980-2009).
- Inclusion of case-control and cohort studies reporting relative risk estimates for heavy drinking occasions (> or =5 drinks) adjusted for average alcohol consumption.
- Meta-analysis using a random-effects model on 14 studies with 4,718 IHD events.
Main Results:
- A pooled relative risk of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.70) was found for irregular heavy drinking occasions compared to regular moderate drinking.
- Significant between-study heterogeneity was observed (I(2) = 53.9%).
- Results remained robust across sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
- Irregular heavy drinking occasions significantly increase the risk of ischemic heart disease.
- The potential cardioprotective effect of moderate alcohol consumption is diminished or eliminated when combined with irregular heavy drinking.
- Public health recommendations should address the risks associated with binge drinking patterns, irrespective of average alcohol intake.
Abstract:
Contrary to a cardioprotective effect of moderate regular alcohol consumption, accumulating evidence points to a detrimental effect of irregular heavy drinking occasions (>60 g of pure alcohol or > or =5 drinks per occasion at least monthly) on ischemic heart disease risk, even for drinkers whose average consumption is moderate. The authors systematically searched electronic databases from 1980 to 2009 for case-control or cohort studies examining the association of irregular heavy drinking occasions with ischemic heart disease risk. Studies were included if they reported either a relative risk estimate for intoxication or frequency of > or =5 drinks stratified by or adjusted for total average alcohol consumption. The search identified 14 studies (including 31 risk estimates) containing 4,718 ischemic heart disease events (morbidity and mortality). Using a standardized protocol, the authors extracted relative risk estimates and their variance, in addition to study characteristics. In a random-effects model, the pooled relative risk of irregular heavy drinking occasions compared with regular moderate drinking was 1.45 (95% confidence interval: 1.24, 1.70), with significant between-study heterogeneity (I(2) = 53.9%). Results were robust in several sensitivity analyses. The authors concluded that the cardioprotective effect of moderate alcohol consumption disappears when, on average, light to moderate drinking is mixed with irregular heavy drinking occasions.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
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...
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology