The Association of Alcohol Consumption with Coronary Heart Disease Mortality and Cancer Incidence Varies by Smoking History

Authors: Jon O. Ebbert¹; Carol A. Janney²; Thomas A. Sellers²; Aaron R. Folsom³; James R. Cerhan²

Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine, Volume 20, Number 1, January 2005 , pp. 14-20(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of alcohol on coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer incidence, and cancer mortality by smoking history. Design/Setting:

A prospective, general community cohort was established with a baseline mailed questionnaire completed in 1986. Participants:

A population-based sample of 41,836 Iowa women aged 55–69 years. Measurements:

Mortality (total, cancer, and CHD) and cancer incidence outcomes were collected through 1999. Relative hazard rates (HR) were calculated using Cox regression analyses. Main Results:

Among never smokers, alcohol consumption (14 g/day vs none) was inversely associated with age-adjusted CHD mortality (HR, 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19 to 0.84) and total mortality (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.92). Among former smokers, alcohol consumption was also inversely associated with CHD mortality (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.88) and total mortality (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.97), but was positively associated with cancer incidence (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.51). Among current smokers, alcohol consumption was not associated with CHD mortality (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.50) or total mortality (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.25), but was positively associated with cancer incidence (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.54). Conclusions:

Health behavior counseling regarding alcohol consumption for cardioprotection should include a discussion of the lack of a decreased risk of CHD mortality for current smokers and the increased cancer risk among former and current smokers.

Keywords: ethanol; coronary disease; neoplasms; smoking; mortality

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.40129.x

Affiliations: 1: Nicotine Research Center, Division of Community Internal Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA; 2: Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA; 3: University of Minnesota, Division of Epidemiology, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Publication date: 2005-01-01

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Internal Medicine
• By this author: Jon O. Ebbert ;  Carol A. Janney ;  Thomas A. Sellers ;  Aaron R. Folsom ;  James R. Cerhan

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers