The Effect of Alcohol and Gender on Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Results From the Baseline Double Exposure Study

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated that psychosocial and lifestyle factors are associated with sustained increases in blood pressure (BP). METHODS: Using post-hoc analyses from the Baseline Double Exposure cohort study, alcohol consumption and gender were examined as to their association with ambulatory BP (ABP) in participants with normal or elevated and untreated BP. RESULTS: The current study included 248 subjects, 135 (54.4%) of whom were women, with a mean age (+/- SD) of 50.8 +/- 6.6 years. The main effects model, which included BMI, multiple regression analysis with 24 h systolic BP as the dependent variable found that alcohol consumption (P = .033), male gender (P = .004), and age (P = .039) were significant variables associated with higher systolic BP, whereas exercise (P = .037) was associated with lower systolic BP. From the regression analysis, the independent effect of alcohol consumption (> or = 10 drinks per week) on systolic BP was 4.4 mm Hg for all subjects during 24 h and 7.1 mm Hg during spousal contact, whereas in women with this degree of alcohol consumption the effect on systolic BP was 8.4 mm Hg during 24 h and 11.4 mm Hg during spousal contact. When the interaction term of gender by drinking status was added to the same regression model, the term was not significant for systolic BP during 24 h, but was significant during spousal contact time (P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates an association between alcohol with higher systolic BP, more pronounced in women than men, particularly during spousal contact time. This is the first time that the interaction of alcohol and gender with ABP has been demonstrated.