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Mediterranean alcohol-drinking pattern, low to moderate alcohol intake and risk of atrial fibrillation in the
P Bazal1, A Gea2, M A Martínez-González3
1Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
Background And Aims:
There is ongoing controversy about the effect of a low to moderate alcohol consumption on atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim is to assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern and AF incidence.
Methods And Results:
A total 6527 out of the 7447 participants in the PREDIMED trial met our inclusion criteria. A validated frequency food questionnaire was used to measure alcohol consumption. Participants were classified as non-drinkers, Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern (MADP) (10-30 g/d in men and 5-15 g/day in women, preferably red wine consumption with low spirits consumption), low-moderate drinking (<30 g/day men y and < 15 g/day women), and heavy drinking. We performed multivariable Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of incident AF according to alcohol drinking patterns. After a mean follow up of 4.4 years, 241 new incident AF cases were confirmed. Alcohol consumption was not associated to AF incidence among low-moderate drinkers (HR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.67-1.37), adherents to MADP (HR: 1.15 95%CI: 0.75-1.75), or heavy drinkers (HR: 0.92; 95%CI: 0.53-1.58), compared with non-drinkers.
Conclusions:
In a high cardiovascular risk adult population, a Mediterranean alcohol consumption pattern (low to moderate red wine consumption) was not associated with an increased incidence of AF.
Clinical Trials:
URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639.
Insights
A Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern, characterized by moderate red wine intake, did not increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in high-risk adults. This study found no association between this pattern and AF incidence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ongoing debate exists regarding the cardiovascular effects of low to moderate alcohol consumption.
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia with significant health implications.
- Understanding dietary patterns' influence on AF risk is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between adherence to a Mediterranean alcohol drinking pattern (MADP) and the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF).
- To clarify the relationship between various levels of alcohol consumption and AF risk in a high-risk population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 6527 participants from the PREDIMED trial with a mean follow-up of 4.4 years.
- Alcohol consumption assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire, categorizing participants into non-drinkers, MADP, low-moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers.
- Multivariable Cox regression models used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for incident AF.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between alcohol consumption and AF incidence across different drinking patterns compared to non-drinkers.
- Hazard ratios for AF were 0.96 (95% CI: 0.67-1.37) for low-moderate drinkers, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.75-1.75) for MADP adherents, and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.53-1.58) for heavy drinkers.
- A total of 241 new AF cases were confirmed during the study period.
Conclusions:
- In a high cardiovascular risk adult population, a Mediterranean alcohol consumption pattern, emphasizing moderate red wine intake, was not linked to an increased incidence of AF.
- These findings suggest that moderate red wine consumption within a Mediterranean dietary context may not elevate AF risk.
- Further research could explore specific components of alcoholic beverages and their differential effects on cardiovascular health.
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