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Alcohol consumption and risk of death in male physicians with heart failure

Andrew B Petrone1, J Michael Gaziano2, Luc Djoussé3

  • 1Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|August 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce mortality risk in heart failure (HF) patients, showing a J-shaped association. This study explored alcohol intake and death risk in male physicians with prevalent HF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) carries a significant 5-year mortality risk.
  • Previous research suggests potential cardiovascular benefits from light-to-moderate alcohol intake.
  • The impact of alcohol consumption on mortality specifically in HF patients remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between alcohol consumption patterns and total mortality risk in US male physicians with prevalent heart failure.
  • To determine if different types of alcoholic beverages are associated with varying mortality risks in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 449 US male physicians with prevalent heart failure was studied.
  • Alcohol consumption was quantified using food frequency questionnaires.
  • Mortality data were collected through annual follow-up and adjudicated by an Endpoint Committee over an average of 7 years.

Main Results:

  • A J-shaped relationship was observed between alcohol intake and mortality risk. The lowest mortality risk was associated with 1 to 2 drinks per day.
  • Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for mortality were 1.00 (reference) for no alcohol, 0.85 (0.61-1.20) for <1 drink/day, 0.60 (0.40-0.88) for 1-2 drinks/day, and 0.71 (0.42-1.21) for 3+ drinks/day.
  • No significant association was found between the type of beverage preferred (beer, wine, or liquor) and mortality risk.

Conclusions:

  • Alcohol consumption in patients with heart failure exhibits a J-shaped association with total mortality.
  • Moderate alcohol intake (1-2 drinks/day) may be associated with a reduced risk of death in this population.
  • Beverage preference did not influence mortality risk in heart failure patients.

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