THE RELATION OF ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND STROKE - THE WEST BIRMINGHAM STROKE PROJECT

The disputed relation between recent alcohol consumption and stroke wa s examined in a community case control study. One hundred and twenty f ive incident first time stroke Patients and 198 controls, aged 35 to 7 4 years, were recruited over two years from a general practice populat ion. The age and sex adjusted relative risks for stroke by recent week ly ''drinks'' of alcohol were; 0-1.0 (reference), 1 to 14-0.57, 15 to 29-0.63, and > 29-0.99. Among the controls it was noted that non-drink ers were more likely than light/moderate drinkers (1 to 29 drinks per week) to have the following characteristics; history of obesity (p < 0 .001), not a recent walker (p < 0.05), and no vigorous exercise in ear ly adulthood (p < 0.01). The apparent association of light and moderat e alcohol consumption with decreased stroke risk disappeared when thes e variables were included in the multiple risk factor adjusted analysi s; 0-1.0, 1 to 14-0.88, 15 to 29-1.11, and > 29-1.23. The pattern for proved cerebral infarction (n = 81) was similar. The results of this s tudy do not support the idea that recent heavy alcohol consumption is an important cause of either overall stroke or cerebral infarction. Th e association of non-drinking with a history of overweight and inactiv ity may explain the apparent protective effect of lighter alcohol cons umption on the risks of both stroke and coronary heart disease.