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BACKGROUND: The question remains as to whether light to moderate alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. METHODS: In 1978, a total of 1101 residents (433 men and 668 women) in a subrural community, Hisayama, in Japan, aged 40 years or more, with normal blood pressure, who were free from cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in a 10-year follow-up study. Inquiries regarding regular drinking were made in an interview based on a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 101 men and 166 women developed hypertension (blood pressure > or =140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive drugs). The age-adjusted incidence of hypertension among current male drinkers increased significantly even with a light intake of alcohol ( or =46 g/day)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that alcohol intake, even light drinking, is a predictor of future hypertension among Japanese men.
Ohmori et al. (Mon,) studied this question.