Authors: BURKE, V.; LEE, A. H.; HUNTER, E.; SPARGO, R.; SMITH, R.; BEILIN, L. J.; PUDDEY, I. B.

Source: Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 42, Number 1, January 2007 , pp. 49-54(6)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Aims: To examine risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in relation to alcohol in a cohort of Australian Aborigines. Methods: In 1988-1989, alcohol intake, drinking pattern, and beverage preference were elicited by interviewer-administered questionnaire in Western Australian Aborigines (258 men and 256 women) and cardiovascular outcomes ascertained through linkage to mortality and hospital admission records to 2002. Results: In proportional hazards models, risk for CHD, relative to lifetime abstainers, was significantly increased in ex-drinkers [Hazard ratio (HR), 2.29; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.23-4.27], those drinking 41-60 g/day in men or 21-40 g/day in women (HR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.04-7.53) and those drinking >150 g/day for men or >100 g/day for women (HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.03-4.90) with a J-shaped relationship. Low-to-moderate drinkers had lower waist girth, exercised more and had a lower prevalence of overweight and smoking than at-risk drinkers. A preference for wine was associated with lower HR (0.28; 95% CI, 0.10-0.95). With CVD, only ex-drinkers showed significantly increased risk (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.20-2.91). Conclusions: More favourable health-related behaviours in low-to-moderate drinkers suggest that lower risk could be mediated by lifestyle, as proposed in other populations.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agl093

Publication date: 2007-01-01

More about this publication?

• Alcohol and Alcoholism publishes papers on biomedical, psychological and sociological aspects of alcoholism and alcohol research, provided that they make a new and significant contribution to knowledge in the field. Papers include new results obtained experimentally, descriptions of new experimental (including clinical) methods of importance to the field of alcohol research and treatment, or new interpretations of existing results. Theoretical contributions are considered equally with papers dealing with experimental work provided that such theoretical contribution are not of a largely speculative or philosophical nature. Alcohol and Alcoholism is the official journal of the Medical Council on Alcohol.

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• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Social & Public Welfare
• By this author: BURKE, V. ;  LEE, A. H. ;  HUNTER, E. ;  SPARGO, R. ;  SMITH, R. ;  BEILIN, L. J. ;  PUDDEY, I. B.

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