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Heavy drinking is associated with poor blood pressure control in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in

Suzanne E Judd1, Leslie A McClure, Virginia J Howard

  • 1Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. sejudd@uab.edu

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|June 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to higher odds of hypertension, particularly in individuals with diabetes. The typical J-shaped alcohol-BP relationship was not observed, suggesting heavy drinkers should limit intake for better blood pressure control.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • The relationship between alcohol intake and blood pressure (BP) often follows a J-shaped curve.
  • This association requires examination in diverse populations, including mixed-race individuals and those with diabetes, who need strict BP management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and hypertension in a large, diverse cohort.
  • To explore potential modifications of this relationship by diabetes status and gender.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 30,239 participants aged 45+ in the REGARDS study.
  • Collection of self-reported alcohol intake, medical history, and clinical measurements.
  • Definition of diabetes and hypertension based on established clinical criteria.

Main Results:

  • Heavy drinking was significantly associated with increased odds of hypertension (OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.37, 1.87) after adjusting for confounders.
  • Diabetes and gender significantly modified the alcohol-hypertension association.
  • The J-shaped relationship was absent in most subgroups, except for white females.

Conclusions:

  • Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to a higher likelihood of hypertension.
  • Individuals who are heavy drinkers may benefit from reducing alcohol intake to aid in hypertension management.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering alcohol intake in BP management strategies, especially in at-risk populations.

Keywords:
alcoholblood pressurediabeteshypertensionrace

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