Alcohol intake, type of beverage, and the risk of cerebral infarction in young women

Background and Purpose - The relationship between alcohol consumption and c erebral infarction remains uncertain, and few studies have investigated whe ther the relationship varies by alcohol type or is present in young adults. We examined the relationship between alcohol consumption, beverage type, a nd ischemic stroke in the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study. Methods-All 59 hospitals in the greater Baltimore-Washington area participa ted in a population-based case-control study of stroke in young women. Case patients (n=224) were aged 15 to 44 years with a first cerebral infarction , and control subjects (n=392), identified by random-digit dialing, were fr equency matched by age and region of residence. The interview assessed life time alcohol consumption and consumption and beverage type in the previous year, week, and day. ORs were obtained from logistic regression models cont rolling for age, race, education, and smoking status, with never drinkers a s the referent. Results-Alcohol consumption, up to 24 g/d, in the past year was associated with fewer ischemic strokes (<12 g/d: OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.86; 12 to 2 4 g/d: OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.86; >24 g/d: OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.43 to 2.10) in comparison to never drinking. Analyses of beverage type (beer, wine, li quor) indicated a protective effect for wine consumption in the previous ye ar (<12 g/wk: OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.97; 12 g/wk to <12 g/d: OR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.28 to 1.10; greater than or equal to 12 g/d: OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.23 to 3.64). Conclusions-Light to moderate alcohol consumption appears to be associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke in young women.