Associations between smoking and alcohol consumption with blood pressure in a middle-aged population

Inconsistent association between tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and hypertension have been highlighted. The purpose of our study was to investigate the associations between smoking use and alcohol with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) and hypertension in a middle-aged population.

Smoking status was based on smoking pack-years and cigarettes per day, and alcohol consumption was measured in units/day. Gender associations between smoking and alcohol consumption with BP and hypertension were estimated using multiple linear regressions. Synergistic effects between smoking and alcohol were investigating in both genders.

A total of 290913 individuals of the UK Biobank population were included (133950 men and 156963 women). Current smoking was significantly associated with lower SBP, DBP and lower hypertension prevalence, in both genders (p<0.001). However, cigarettes per day were associated with higher SBP in men current smokers [B=0.05 (0.02), p<0.001] with higher hypertension (p=0.001) but not with DBP (p=0.205). Similar results were observed in women current smokers [SBP: B=0.10 (0.02), p<0.001; DBP, p=0.217 and hypertension, p=0.019]. The number of smoking pack-years was only associated with higher levels in SBP in men (p=0.047) and in women (p<0.001). In both genders, alcohol consumption was associated with higher SBP, DBP and hypertension (p<0.001). Synergistic effects were observed for alcohol consumption on smoking pack-years and cigarettes per day with SBP and DBP.

Smoking and alcohol were associated with higher BP in current smokers with synergistic effects. The findings suggest the importance of considering smoking and alcohol consumption in BP control in addition to antihypertensive medication and public health practice.