Alcohol consumption and risk of coronary artery disease: A dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies

To investigate and quantify the potential dose-response association between alcohol consumption and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).

We searched the PubMed database from inception to March 2015 and reviewed the reference list of relevant articles to identify prospective studies assessing the association between alcohol consumption and risk of CAD. Study-specific relative risk (RR) estimates were combined using a random-effects model. Publication bias was estimated using Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test. The meta-analysis included 18 prospective studies, with a total of 214 340 participants and 7756 CAD cases. The pooled adjusted RRs were 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.68) for highest alcohol consumption amount versus lowest amount. Begg's and Egger's regression tests provided no evidence of substantial publication bias (P = 0.762 for Begg's test and 0.172 for Egger's test).

In a dose response analysis, we observed a nonlinear association between alcohol consumption and risk of CAD (P for nonlinearity <0.00). Compared with non-drinkers, the RRs (95% CI) of CAD across levels of alcohol consumption were 0.75 (0.70-0.80) for 12 g/d, 0.70 (0.66-0.75) for 24 g/d, 0.69 (0.64-0.75) for 36 g/d, 0.70 (0.64-0.77) for 60 g/d, 0.74 (0.67-0.83) for 90 g/d, and 0.83 (0.67-1.04) for 135 g/d.

Alcohol consumption in moderation is associated with a reduced risk of CAD with 36 grams/d of alcohol conferring a lower risk than other levels.