ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND RISK OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE IN WOMEN

Background: Most studies suggest that alcohol use decreases the risk o f coronary heart disease in men, however, this association has not bee n well established in women. Method: This study investigates the relat ionship between alcohol use and ischemic heart disease (IHD) incidence among women aged 45 to 74 years in the Epidemiologic Followup Study o f the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The coho rt was free of heart disease at baseline. During the follow-up period (mean, 13 years), 884 IHD cases were identified through hospital recor ds, reported hospital stays, or death certificates. Results: Women rep orting any amount of alcohol use had about a 20% decrease in risk of I HD incidence compared with abstainers. Using a Cox regression model to adjust for known cardiovascular risk factors, this relative risk of I HD remained essentially unchanged. The greatest reduction in the risk of IHD (36% to 39%) was among women who consumed about half to two dri nks per day compared with abstainers. Conclusions: This study of a nat ionally representative sample with a mean follow-up of 13 years and a substantial number of IHD cases suggests that moderate alcohol use dec reases the risk of IHD. However, the risk and benefits of moderate alc ohol consumption need to be viewed within a broader perspective especi ally since the potentially harmful effects of alcohol have been well d ocumented.