A study published in the American College found that young to middle-aged women who reported drinking eight or more alcoholic drinks per week (on average, one or more drinks per day) were more likely to have coronary heart disease than women who drank less. of the Annual Scientific Sessions of Cardiology found that they were significantly more likely to develop heart disease. The study found that both men and women who reported episodic heavy drinking, or “binge drinking,” were at highest risk, and the link between alcohol and heart disease appeared to be particularly strong for women.

The study focused on adults aged 18 to 65 and is one of the largest and most diverse studies to date examining the link between alcohol and heart disease. Heart attacks and other heart diseases are on the rise among young people in the United States, raising concerns about their declining health. At the same time, alcohol use and binge drinking are more common among women than in past decades.

“When it comes to binge drinking, both men and women who consume excessive amounts of alcohol had an increased risk of heart disease,” said Jamal Lana, a cardiologist and adjunct research fellow at Permanente Medical Group. said M.D., FACC. from Kaiser Permanente in Northern California and lead author of the study. “For women, we see a consistently higher risk even in the absence of binge drinking. We typically see higher risk for heart disease in older women, so we see this in women in this younger age group. I didn’t expect such a result. It was definitely a surprise.”

Researchers used data from more than 430,000 people who received care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California General Hospital, including about 243,000 men and 189,000 women. Participants had an average age of 44 years and had no heart disease at the start of the study. Information on participants’ alcohol consumption was collected during primary care visits using the health organization’s standard “Alcohol as a Vital Sign” screening initiative. It includes a visual reference poster to help patients estimate alcohol volume according to standard measurements.

Researchers analyzed the relationship between participants’ alcohol intake levels reported at their 2014-2015 periodic assessment and their diagnosis of coronary heart disease over the subsequent four years. Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart narrow, restricting blood flow. This condition can cause acute symptoms such as chest pain and heart attack.

The researchers determined that participants’ overall alcohol intake was low (1-2 drinks per week for both men and women), moderate (3-14 drinks per week for men and 14 drinks per week for women), based on self-report ratings. (3 to 7 cups). , or high (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women). They categorized each participant as either binge drinker or not. Binge drinking was defined as 4 or more drinks for men and 3 or more drinks for women on a single day in the past 3 months. Those who reported not using alcohol were not included in the study. Researchers adjusted the data to account for age, physical activity, smoking, and other known cardiovascular risk factors.

Overall, 3,108 study participants were diagnosed with coronary heart disease during the 4-year follow-up period, and the incidence of coronary heart disease increased as alcohol intake increased. For women, those who reported high alcohol intake had a 45% higher risk of heart disease than those who reported low alcohol intake, and a lower risk than those who reported moderate alcohol intake. It was 29% higher. The difference was greatest among individuals in the binge drinking category. Women in this category were 68% more likely to develop heart disease compared to women reporting moderate intake. Men with high overall intakes were 33% more likely to develop heart disease compared to men with moderate intakes.

“Women feel protected from heart disease until they get older, but this study shows that even in young or middle age, if you drink a lot of alcohol or binge eat, It shows you’re at risk for heart disease,”’ Lana said.

The results showed no significant difference in risk between those who reported moderate and low alcohol consumption, regardless of whether they were classified as heavy drinkers. did.

Alcohol has been shown to increase blood pressure and cause inflammation and metabolic changes associated with obesity. Women also process alcohol differently than men. Researchers said the study calls attention to the health risks of alcohol consumption and highlights the importance of considering alcohol use in heart disease risk assessment and prevention efforts.

“When we think of heart disease, the first thing that comes to mind is smoking, and we don’t think of alcohol as a vital sign,” Lana says. “I think there needs to be more awareness. Alcohol should be included as part of regular health checkups from now on.”

One limitation of this study is that people tend to underreport their alcohol intake when asked by health care providers. As a result, this study may provide a conservative estimate of the risk of heart disease associated with alcohol consumption. Researchers also found that how alcohol screening is performed in the clinic may influence how patients and clinicians discuss the risks of alcohol consumption, and further research may help determine the optimal strategy. He said there is.

This research was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

On Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 4:30 pm ET/8:30 pm UTC, Mr. He is scheduled to present a study titled “The Impact of Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease”. Moderated poster theater 08.

ACC.24 Held in Atlanta from April 6-8, 2024, it will bring together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world to share the latest discoveries in treatment and prevention.to follow @ACCinTouch, @ACCMediaCenter and #ACC24 Check out the latest news from the conference.

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