Booze in moderation may cut stroke, death risk for heart disease patients

27 July 2021 - 10:41 By Dania Nadeem
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A study has found that higher alcohol consumption was not associated with increased risks of recurrent heart attack or death compared with no alcohol consumption. File photo.
A study has found that higher alcohol consumption was not associated with increased risks of recurrent heart attack or death compared with no alcohol consumption. File photo.
Image: 123rf/Jakub Godja

Light to moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a reduced risk of heart attack, stroke and death among those with heart disease, according to a study published in the journal BMC Medicine on Monday.

The largest benefit — a 50% reduction in risk compared with non-drinkers — was seen in people with heart disease who drank an average of six grams of alcohol per day. (A standard “unit” of alcohol is 8g in the UK, whereas the average drink in the US contains 14g.)

People who averaged 8g per day had a 27% lower risk of death from heart attack, stroke or angina, compared with those who did not drink. Those who drank 7g per day had a 21% lower risk of death due to any cause.

Drinking higher amounts, up to an average of 15g of alcohol daily, were linked with smaller reductions in risk.

“Our findings suggest that people with CVD (cardiovascular disease) may not need to stop drinking to prevent additional heart attacks, strokes or angina, but that they may wish to consider lowering their weekly alcohol intake,” said study co-author Chengyi Ding, a research student at University College London.

She noted, however: “Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing other illnesses.”

Ding cautioned that non-drinking individuals should not be encouraged to take up light drinking because of known adverse effects on other health outcomes, such as cancers.

The researchers, who assessed more than 48,000 patients with heart disease, found that higher alcohol consumption, up to 62g per day, was not associated with increased risk of recurrent heart attack or death compared with no alcohol consumption.

Overall, the alcohol amounts that were linked with benefit are lower than those recommended in most current guidelines. For example, the American Heart Association's guidelines for heart patients recommend up to two US drinks per day for men and one per day for women.

A 2019 study found older people with heart failure who consume up to seven drinks a week may live longer than those who completely avoid alcohol. However, researchers in the past have found that heavy drinking was associated with increased levels of blood biomarkers that indicate damage to the heart.

The new study analysed data from the UK Biobank, the Health Survey for England, the Scottish Health Survey and from 12 previous studies.

The researchers caution that their findings may overestimate the reduction in risk for moderate drinkers with heart disease due to the underrepresentation of heavy drinkers and categorisation of former drinkers who may have quit. 

Reuters


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