ALCOHOL AND STROKE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF DRINKING HABITS PAST ANDPRESENT

Background and Purpose: Previous studies have reported a U-shaped rela tion between alcohol consumption and stroke. Those studies have been c riticized for failing to distinguish between lifelong abstainers from alcohol and those who have given up drinking. Methods: We examined cur rent and previous drinking habits of 364 cases of acute stroke and 364 community-based control subjects matched for age, sex, and family pra ctitioner. Results: Stroke patients were more likely to have been life long abstainers from alcohol than were the control subjects. The odds ratio (OR) of lifelong abstainers versus those who had ever drunk regu larly was 2.36 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67 to 3.37). No relati on was found between stroke and current nondrinkers. Current male heav y drinkers also had an increased risk of stroke (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.0 8 to 2.31). Conclusions: Lifelong abstention from alcohol is associate d with an increased risk of stroke. Moderate alcohol consumption may p rotect against cerebrovascular disease.