Alcohol Intake and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Middle-Aged Japanese Men

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.26.5.767
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:08:03Z
• Authors: Hiroyasu Iso; Akihiko Kitamura; Takashi Shimamoto; Tomoko Sankai; Yoshihiko Naito; Shinichi Sato; Masahiko Kiyama; Minoru Iida; Yoshio Komachi
• Keywords: Stroke

Understanding the effects of alcohol intake on stroke and other cardiovascular diseases is an important issue for public health.A 10.5-year prospective study relationship between disease incidence was conducted in 2890 men, aged 40 to 69 years free a history coronary heart disease, three rural communities Japan.One hundred seventy-eight strokes (40 intracerebral hemorrhages, 18 subarachnoid 104 nonhemorrhagic strokes, 16 unclassified strokes), 34 events, 19 sudden deaths occurred. Drinkers > or = 70 g/d ethanol had approximately 2.5 times higher age-adjusted risk all than never-drinkers; excess more evident hemorrhagic stroke. When hypertension category, serum total cholesterol level, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus were taken into account, these risks reduced but remained significant (2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 3.1) (3.4; 1.2 9.2). A J-shaped suggested stroke; drinkers < 42 slightly lower heavy never-drinkers. Current never-drinkers, although difference not statistically significant. The death 10 did change when covariates controlled for. Total showed similar pattern as stroke.Heavy drinking appeared increase stroke, part due hypertension, death, which probably per se. Light moderate consumption seemed protect against disease.