Alcohol consumption and carotid intima-media thickness in different genders: A cross-sectional UK biobank study

The role of alcohol consumption as an independent risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) remains debated. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a key biomarker for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. This study investigates the impact of alcohol consumption on CIMT across genders and explores gender differences.

We analyzed data from 31,239 participants in the UK Biobank, categorizing them by average weekly alcohol consumption into non-drinkers, former drinkers, light drinkers, moderate and heavy drinkers. CIMT measurements were classified into quartiles. We employed ordered logistic regression to examine associations between alcohol consumption (quantity and type) and CIMT in both men and women.

Among males, moderate and heavy drinkers had fewer individuals in the lowest carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) quartile compared to the highest quartile group, while never drinkers males showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals in the highest CIMT quartile increased with higher alcohol consumption, though this association was not observed in females. Multivariable regression analysis revealed a significantly elevated CIMT risk in moderate-to-heavy drinking (>112 g/week) males compared to never drinkers (OR 1.25, 95 % CI 1.02-1.55), but no such association was found in females (OR 1.05, 95 % CI 0.89-1.24). Beer plus cider consumption were linked to increased CIMT risk in men (OR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.05-1.70), whereas no protective effect was observed for red wine (OR 1.20, 95 % CI 0.95-1.51).

Owing to the limitations inherent in our study design, our findings can only be interpreted as hypothetical conclusions, and causal inference between alcohol consumption and CIMT cannot be established. Our findings indicate that moderate-to-heavy alcohol intake (>112 g/week) was associated with greater CIMT thickness in males, but not in females. These findings suggest a gender-specific impact of alcohol on CIMT thickening risk, warranting further investigation.