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Alcohol intake, hypertension development and mortality in black South Africans

Mandlenkosi C Zatu1, Johannes M Van Rooyen2, Annamarie Kruger3

  • 1Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, South Africa Medical Research Council: Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa Department of Physiology, University of Limpopo (Medunsa), South Africa.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
|December 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) best predicts cardiovascular mortality and hypertension development in black South Africans. Self-reported alcohol intake also showed a link to hypertension risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Biomarker research
  • Public health

Background:

  • Excessive alcohol intake is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.
  • Identifying reliable alcohol biomarkers is crucial for predicting health outcomes.
  • This study focuses on black South African adults, a population group with specific health considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine which alcohol marker—self-reported intake, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), or % carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT)—best predicts mortality and hypertension development.
  • To assess the predictive value of these markers over a five-year period.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study design was employed as part of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.
  • Data from 2010 participants were analyzed, with 1471 followed over five years.
  • Alcohol intake was self-reported, and blood samples were analyzed for GGT and %CDT levels. Blood pressure was also measured.

Main Results:

  • Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) independently predicted cardiovascular mortality (HR=2.76) and all-cause mortality (HR=2.47).
  • GGT also significantly predicted hypertension development (HR=1.31) over five years.
  • Self-reported alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of hypertension (HR=1.30) but not mortality. %CDT showed no significant associations.

Conclusions:

  • GGT is a significant independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and hypertension development in black South Africans.
  • While not specific to excessive alcohol consumption, GGT serves as a valuable general marker for hypertension and mortality risk.
  • GGT's association with self-reported alcohol intake further supports its utility in health assessments.
Abstract

Keywords:
Gamma-glutamyltransferasecardiovascular diseasehypertensionmorbiditypercentage carbohydrate deficient transferrinself-reported alcohol intakesub-Saharan Africa

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