Link between alcohol consumption and myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause mortality among Swedish male automotive workers over 30 years

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and all-cause mortality exhibits significant regional variation. OBJECTIVE: This prospective study aimed to investigate this association analyzing data from a cohort of Swedish men aged 45-50 years at baseline, evaluating subgroups over various time intervals, and compiling data on cardiovascular endpoints. METHODS: The Coeur study, conducted between 1993 and 1995, included 973 middle-aged male employees out of a randomly selected sample of 1144 individuals from a Swedish automotive company. Participants were followed for 30 years using national health registers. The accumulated incidence of first-time stroke, first-time MI and all-cause mortality was calculated and adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. Data analysis employed time-to-event methods (Kaplan-Meier's estimates and hazard ratios) and measures of association (odds ratios and correlation analysis). However, alcohol consumption was associated with lower odds of MI (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41-0.79) and a slight increase in survival time (HR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995-1.000). Alcohol consumers had a median survival advantage of 1.3 years compared to non-consumers. All beverage types showed a negative association with all-cause mortality (total alcohol: OR = 0.57; beer: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.92; wine: OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41-0.75). Conversely, beer consumption was linked to higher odds of MI (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.05-2.75). CONCLUSIONS: While alcohol consumption in middle-aged men after 30 years follow-up is associated with increased survival time, beer correlates with a higher likelihood of MI.