Alcohol consumption behavior and new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study
Abstract Background Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a high risk of being associated with cardiovascular diseases including atrial fibrillation (AF). Although excessive alcohol consumption is an established modifiable risk factor for AF, alcohol behavior modification for preventing the risk of AF is not widely studied. Objective We explored the clinical effects of alcohol consumption behavior on the prevention from new-onset AF in patients with T2DM. Methods A total of 180,964 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM were identified between 2009 and 2014 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database after excluding a previous history of AF. We followed up them until 2017, and compared the risk of AF according to alcohol consumption behavior. Results During follow-up of mean 4.3 years, new-onset AF occurred in 2,386 patients. Compared to non-drinkers, heavy drinker (≥30 g/day) at the baseline had a higher risk of AF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.112–1.492), whereas mild-drinker had no statically significant difference. According to alcohol consumption behavior, subject who stopped drinking from the time of T2DM diagnosis had the lower risk of AF; abstinence group (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.135–1.569), restart group (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.131–1.688) and continuous group (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.238–1.776). In subgroup analysis, the impact of alcohol consumption behavior was more pronounced in male, but not in female; abstinence group (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.101–1.536), restart group (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.141–1.711), and continuous group (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.244–1.789). Conclusions Abstention from alcohol reduced the risk of AF development in patient newly diagnosed with T2DM. Especially, in men, alcohol consumption behaviour modification is an important strategy for preventing cardiovascular event in patient newly diagnosed with T2DM. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None