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Fourteen drinks per week are linked to a higher risk of health problems including stroke and embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to research published in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
“Our study suggests that patients with atrial fibrillation should avoid excessive alcohol consumption to prevent stroke and other complications,” said lead author Dr. Boyoung Joung of Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
The study included 9,411 atrial fibrillation patients from 18 tertiary hospitals covering all geographic regions of South Korea. The patients were classified into four groups based on their weekly alcohol consumption (one drink contains 14 grams of alcohol): abstemious / rare (0 grams / less than one drink), light (less than 100 grams / 7 drinks), moderate (100-200 grams / 7-14 drinks) and heavy (200 grams / 14 drinks or more).
A total of 7,455 (79.2%) patients were classified as abstainer / rare, 795 (8.4%) light, 345 (3.7%) moderate, and 816 (8.7%) as heavy alcohol consumption.
Patients were followed up for a median of 17.4 months for adverse events, which included stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism (a blood clot in a limb or organ), and hospitalization for control of the rate or rhythm of fibrillation. atrial or for heart failure management. The researchers recorded how many patients experienced one of these events and calculated the accident rate (number of events per 100 person-years). The accident rates were 6.73, 5.77, 6.44 and 9.65 in abstained / rare, light, moderate and heavy drinkers, respectively.
Researchers compared the risk of adverse events in light, moderate and heavy drinkers with the abstained / rare group. Excessive alcohol consumption was associated with a 32% increased risk compared to abstainers and rare drinkers. No significant associations were observed for light or moderate alcohol consumption.
Dr Joung said, “Our study found no significant association between light or moderate drinking and complications. A significant deleterious relationship with heavy drinking was identified, suggesting that heavy alcohol consumption should be avoided.”
Subgroup analyzes showed that the impact of excessive alcohol consumption was more pronounced in patients with low risk of stroke2 than in those at moderate or high risk of stroke. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption was associated with a greater likelihood of adverse outcomes in patients without high blood pressure than in those with high blood pressure. Higher risks were also seen in patients not using beta-blockers or antiplatelet drugs than in those taking the drugs.
Dr Joung said: “The results indicate that alcohol consumption is particularly harmful for patients with atrial fibrillation who are considered less vulnerable to complications. Physicians should ask patients about their alcohol consumption and take this into account when calculating. the risk of stroke “.
He concluded: “While excessive alcohol consumption should be strongly discouraged among patients with atrial fibrillation, moderate drinking appears to be safe.”
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Materials provided by European Society of Cardiology. Note: The content can be changed by style and length.
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