ALCOHOL, RISK-FACTORS AND MORTALITY FROM CARDIOVASCULAR AND SOME CHRONIC NONINFECTIOUS DISEASES AMONG MEN (DATA OF CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AND OF PROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP FOR 20 YEARS)

Data of cross sectional and prospective epidemiological studies of men aged 40 - 59 years in Moscow and St.Petersburg were used for investig ation of the relationship between alcoholic status and levels of systo lic and diastolic blood pressure, excessive body mass, total cholester ol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and smoking. S ystolic and diastolic blood pressures, level of high density lipoprote in cholesterol and intensity of smoking rose with increase of alcohol consumption. Coronary, cardiovascular and total mortality were lower a mong those men who had consumed moderate amounts of alcohol during the week preceding the initial interview. Mortality rates were higher amo ng abstainers and heavy drinkers and thus the mortality/alcohol consum ption curve was ''U'' shaped. Relative age-adjusted risk of coronary, cardiovascular, stroke and all-cause deaths was lower in all groups of drinkers compared to groups of nondrinkers.