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Alcohol consumption and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in men

Erin K Howie1, Xuemei Sui, Duck-Chul Lee

  • 1Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.

Journal of Aging Research
|July 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Moderate alcohol consumption, specifically less than six drinks weekly, was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in men. All-cause mortality risk showed no significant difference across alcohol intake levels in this study.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Understanding the relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality is crucial for public health guidelines.
  • Previous research on alcohol's impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality has yielded varied results.
  • Specific consumption levels and their differential effects require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between alcohol beverage consumption and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.
  • To analyze these associations within a large cohort of men.
  • To evaluate if current public health recommendations on alcohol intake align with observed mortality risks.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 31,367 men.
  • Cox proportional hazards models were utilized for statistical analysis.
  • Adjustments were made for various potential confounders including age, BMI, smoking, CVD history, and fitness levels.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in all-cause mortality risk were observed across different alcohol intake groups.
  • A reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was noted: 29% in the lowest quartile (HR=0.71) and 25% in the second quartile (HR=0.75) of alcohol consumption.
  • The beneficial effect on CVD mortality was associated with consuming fewer than six alcoholic drinks per week, below current recommendations.

Conclusions:

  • Consumption of less than six alcoholic drinks per week may be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality in men.
  • Current public health recommendations for alcohol consumption may need re-evaluation based on these findings.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these associations and inform public health strategies regarding alcohol intake.

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