The Effect of Alcohol Intake on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality Disappeared After Taking Lifetime Drinking and Covariates Into Account
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles) 30 Jan 2008

Current alcohol intake has been associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effect of past and lifetime drinking has received less attention.

In the present study, the impact of current, past and lifetime drinking on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality has been assessed. Secondly, the effect of accounting for covariates within these relationships has been studied.

During follow-up, 679 men and 397 women had a cardiovascular event and 330 men and 204 women died. Current drinking was associated with lower risks of cardiovascular events (women) and all-cause mortality (men and women) compared with never drinkers. The relationships were strongest for alcohol intake measured with the Weekly Recall.

Lifetime alcohol intake and alcohol intake in the distant past did not seem to be related to all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events. Adjustments for covariates weakened the relationships.

Potential positive effects of drinking seem to be of a transient nature, as lifetime drinking and drinking in the past could not be related to all-cause mortality or cardiovascular events. The alleged benefits of current drinking at baseline diminished with increasing methodological quality and rigor.

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