INFLUENCE OF SEX, AGE, BODY-MASS INDEX, AND SMOKING ON ALCOHOL INTAKEAND MORTALITY

Objective-To examine the association between self reported alcohol int ake and subsequent mortality from all causes and if the effect of alco hol intake on the risk of death is modified by sex, age, body mass ind ex, and smoking. Design-Prospective population study with baseline ass essment of alcohol and tobacco consumption and body mass index, and 10 -12 years' follow up of mortality. Setting-Copenhagen city heart study , Denmark. Subjects-7234 women and 6051 men aged 30-79 years. Main out come measure-Number and time of deaths from 1976 to 1988. Results-A to tal of 2229 people died, 1398 being men. All shaped curve described th e relation between alcohol intake and mortality. The lowest risk was o bserved at one to six alcoholic beverages a week (relative risk set at 1). Abstainers had a relative risk of 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1 .20 to 1.56) whereas those drinking more than 70 beverages a week had a relative risk of 2.29 (1.75 to 3.00). Among the drinkers, the risk w as significantly increased only among those drinking more than 42 beve rages a week. Sex, age, body mass index, and smoking did not significa ntly modify the risk function. The risk among heavy drinkers was sligh tly reduced when smoking was controlled for. The risk function was sim ilar in the first and second period of six years of observation. Concl usion-Alcohol intake showed a U shaped relation to mortality with the nadir at one to six beverages a week. The risk function was not modifi ed by sex, age, body mass index, or smoking and remained stable over 1 2 years.