Better results than for non-drinkers
Monash University
The study in more than 18,000 people in
the US and Australia over the age of 70 is the first to look at the heart
health implications of alcohol intake.
Excess
alcohol consumption is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease
and a major risk factor for mortality. Yet, prior studies suggested that
moderate alcohol consumption may be associated with a lower risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.
This
Monash University study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology is
the first to investigate the risk of CVD events and mortality, from all causes,
associated with alcohol consumption in initially healthy, older individuals.
Populations
around the world are aging. The Monash University- led ASPirin in Reducing
Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) clinical trial was a large-scale, long-term
multi-centre, bi-national study of aspirin and health in older adults, with the
purpose to discover ways to maintain health, quality of life and independence
as we age.
This study, led by Dr Johannes Neumann, from the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, analysed data from almost 18,000 ASPREE participants -- Australians and Americans mostly aged 70 years and older.
Participants in the study did not have prior CVD events, diagnosed dementia or independence-limiting physical disability. CVD events included coronary heart disease death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, fatal and non-fatal stroke, non-coronary cardiac or vascular death, and hospitalisation for heart failure.
Information on alcohol consumption (days of drinking per week and average
standard drinks per day) was assessed by self-reported questionnaire at
baseline. The study excluded former alcohol consumers who may have stopped
alcohol consumption for various health reasons, possibly introducing bias from
reverse causality.
Based on
this information, the alcohol intake was calculated as grams per week -- for US
participants a standard drink was equivalent to 14 g and 10 g for Australian
participants.
In the
study, alcohol consumption was categorised as 0 (never drinks) and those who
drink 1-50; 51-100; 101-150, and >150g/week. For Australians that is up to
5; 5-10; 10-14 and over 15 standard drinks per week. For Americans -- that is
up to 3.5; 3.5-7; 7-10 and over 10 standard drinks per week. Of the almost
18,000 eligible participants with median age 74 years:
- 57% were
female
- 43.3% were
current or former smokers and
- mean BMI
was 28.1 kg/m2
The
participants reported that
- 18.6%
ingested no alcohol every week
- 37.3%
reported 1-50 g/week
- 19.7%reported
51-100 g/week
- 15.6%
reported 101-150 g/week
- 8.9%
reported >150 g/week
The
participants were followed for an average of 4.7 years and the study found that
there was a reduced risk of CVD events for individuals consuming alcohol of
51-100, 101-150, and >150 g/week, compared to never consuming alcohol,
regardless of gender.
Consumption
of 51-100 g/week was also associated with a reduced risk of all-cause
mortality.
Lead
author, Dr Neumann, says the findings need to be interpreted with caution, as
study participants were all initially healthy without prior CVD or other severe
diseases, and may have been more physically and socially active than the wider
ageing population.
Furthermore,
prior evidence showed that excess alcohol consumption increases the risk of
other chronic diseases, such as cancer, liver disease or pancreatitis.
In
summary, modest alcohol intake in this group of healthy older adults was not
harmful for CVD or overall mortality. According to Dr Neumann, further research
is warranted to evaluate causal biological effects of alcohol on health and
possible behavioural advantages of social drinking and engagement.
