WINE CONSUMPTION AND ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE MORTALITY IN SPAIN

BACKGROUND: TO identify the determinants of the geographic distributio n of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in Spain. POPULATION AND METHODS: Ecological study at the provincial level. Data are obtained f rom the 1976-1980 vital statistics, the 1964-1965 Household Budget Sur vey and the 1970 Population Census. RESULTS: Consumption of wine, chic ken, fish, and vegetables, as well as illiteracy, explain 47% of IHD m ortality. Consumption of wine alone exhibits a statistically significa nt relationship (p < 0.05) with IHD mortality. Moderate consumption of wine is negatively associated with IHD mortality, whereas higher cons umption reveals a positive association. CONCLUSIONS: Results are consi stent with those from an earlier study in Spain for the 1983-1987 peri od.