Kaiser Permanente study suggests just two drinks a day may increase risk of heart disease

Women who reported drinking eight or more alcoholic drinks per week were more likely to have coronary heart disease than women who reported drinking fewer than eight drinks per week, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Meeting. They were significantly more likely to develop the disease.

“Although it has long been believed that alcohol is good for the heart, there is a growing body of evidence that challenges that idea,” said lead author Jamal S. Rana, M.D., a cardiologist and adjunct research fellow at Permanente Medical Group. the doctor said. At Kaiser Permanente Research Department. “We leverage comprehensive data available at Kaiser Permanente to link levels of alcohol use, including episodic binge drinking and ‘binge drinking,’ to women’s and women’s risk of coronary heart disease. We felt it was important to contribute to this discussion by investigating the relationship between Men. ”

The study involved 432,265 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) members between the ages of 18 and 65 with no history of heart disease or stroke. From 2014 to 2015, all participants were asked about alcohol consumption during primary care visits as part of KPNC’s alcohol screening activity in primary care, Alcohol as a Vital Sign. The research team identified which patients were diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Over the next four years. Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart narrow, restricting blood flow.

Researchers used federal standards to classify participants’ overall alcohol consumption as low (1 to 2 drinks per week for both men and women). Moderate (3-14 drinks per week for men, 3-7 drinks per week for women). or large amounts (15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks per week for women). Binge drinking was defined as 4 or more drinks per day for men and 3 or more drinks for women within the past 3 months.

As doctors, we need to talk more to our patients, especially our female patients, about the potential heart risks associated with heavy drinking and binge drinking.

— Jamal S. Rana, MD

In this study, 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 develop coronary heart disease than women who drank less. The odds were found to be between 33% and 51% higher.

Binge drinking increases risk

The highest risk was seen in women and men who reported episodic heavy drinking or “binge drinking.” Women in this category were 68% more likely to develop heart disease compared to women who reported moderate intake.

“Alcohol has been shown to increase blood pressure and cause metabolic changes associated with inflammation and obesity, both of which increase the risk of heart disease,” said lead author Stacey A. Sterling, MD, MSW. the doctor said. Research department. “Women also process alcohol differently than men due to biological and physiological differences, which may contribute to the increased risk of heart disease we found.” This is concerning because rates of alcohol use are increasing among young and middle-aged women, including among women.”

Overall, 3,108 study participants were diagnosed with coronary heart disease during the four-year follow-up period. For women, those who reported high alcohol consumption had a 45% higher risk of heart disease than those who reported low alcohol consumption, and 29% higher than those who reported moderate alcohol consumption. . Men in the heavy drinking category were 33% more likely to develop heart disease than men who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol.

The study did not include people who said they did not drink alcohol. Researchers adjusted the data to account for age, physical activity, obesity, smoking, and other known cardiovascular risk factors.

Important message for doctors

The results of this study were presented as an abstract at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The entire study was submitted to a medical journal but has not yet been peer-reviewed or published.

The researchers say that while the findings are preliminary, it’s not too early to translate the research into practice.

“At Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we consider alcohol consumption to be a vital sign, so we ask all patients how often and how much they drink and record their responses at every visit, just as we record their blood pressure. ” said Sterling.

Lana added. “Our findings suggest that as physicians, we need to talk more to our patients, especially our female patients, about the potential heart risks associated with excessive drinking and binge drinking.”

This study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Co-authors include Felicia W. Chee, MD, of the Department of Research and Isaac Acquah, MD, MPH, of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

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About Kaiser Permanente Research Department

Kaiser Permanente’s Research Division conducts, publishes, and disseminates epidemiology and health services research to improve the health and health care of Kaiser Permanente members and society as a whole. We aim to understand the determinants of disease and health and improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare. Currently, his more than 600 staff members at DOR are working on his more than 450 epidemiology and health services research projects. For more information, visit divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org or follow @KPDOR.