Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
BACKGROUND: Low to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced mortality, primarily due to a reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD). Conversely, heavy drinking increases mortality, mainly due to haemorrhagic stroke and non-cardiovascular diseases. It is important to identify the threshold of alcohol consumption above which the balance of risk and benefit becomes adverse. We examine the relationship between reported alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, a 10-year CHD risk score and hypertension in women. METHODS: In all, 14 077 female employees aged 30-64 years, underwent screening for CVD risk factors. Information was available on a range of personal and lifestyle factors, including height, weight, blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and blood glucose. Age-adjusted means were computed for the risk factors in each of five groups of reported alcohol intake: or = 22 units/week. The relationships between alcohol and a derived coronary risk score and hypertension were also examined. RESULTS: Increasing consumption was associated with an age-adjusted increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A1 (both P or = 15 units/week. These data suggest that, in terms of the reduced risk of CVD, women should be advised to restrict their alcohol consumption to < or = 14 units/week.
Nanchahal et al. (Tue,) studied this question.