Association between alcohol consumption and mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke in 25 year follow up of 49 618 young Swedish men

Several epidemiological studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced mortality from cardiovascular diseases in middle aged and elderly subjects,1 but its effect in younger people is unknown. High alcohol consumption is associated with increased total mortality, but the findings for stroke have varied.1 2 We analysed the association between alcohol consumption and the incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and mortality in a 25 year follow up of military conscripts. This study is based on 49 618 Swedish men conscripted between 1 July 1969 and 30 June 1970 and born between 1949 and 1952.2 At conscription, all men were given two questionnaires with questions covering social background, behaviour, and use of alcohol and tobacco, and all met with a psychologist for assessment. The percentage of non-responders was between 1% and 2%. From questions about quantity and frequency …