Alcohol consumption and risk of heart failure: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: Alcohol is a known cardiac toxin, yet the nature of the association between alcohol consumption and the development of heart failure (HF) in the community, and whether this relationship is different in men and women, is unclear. Therefore we assessed the association between alcohol intake and the development of HF or death in men and women in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Methods: We examined 14,993 participants in ARIC without prevalent HF at baseline (1987-89) who were followed through 2009 (median of 20.6 years). Self-reported alcohol consumption was defined as the number of drinks per day (1 drink=14g of alcohol). Using Cox proportional hazards models, we examined the association of alcohol intake with the composite outcome of death or hospitalization for HF, stratified by sex, adjusting for age, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, body mass index, total cholesterol, physical activity, education level, smoking status, and incident myocardial infarction as a time varying covariate. Results: The risk for HF or death in men was lowest among those who consumed 0-1 drink/day (HR 0.81, 95% CI, 0.72-0.90) compared with those who did not consume alcohol. In contrast, in women the risk associated with consuming 1 or 2 drinks/day was not significantly different from the non-drinkers (0-1 drink HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.89-1.20; 1-2 drinks, HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.81-1.46, P for interaction by sex 0.01). Drinking ≥3 drinks/day increased the risk of HF or death by 40% in men (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.72) but more than doubled the risk in women (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.34-4.47). Conclusion: Consumption of ≥3 alcoholic drinks/day is associated with increased risk for death/HF in both men and women, with a higher risk in women, even adjusting for body size and other covariates. Compared to alcohol abstinence, low alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of death/HF in men but not in women. These findings suggest that the toxic and protective effects of alcohol may be different in men and women.

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PRE-MORBID BODY MASS INDEX, HIGH SENSITIVITY TROPONIN-T AND MORTALITY AFTER INCIDENT HEART FAILURE HOSPITALIZATION: THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES STUDY (ARIC)

Journal of the American College of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/s0735-1097(15)61003-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 65 (10) ◽

pp. A1003

Author(s):

Yashashwi Pokharel ◽

Wensheng Sun ◽

Vijay Nambi ◽

Salim Virani ◽

Scott Solomon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Troponin T ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Heart Failure Hospitalization ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Incident Heart Failure ◽

High Sensitivity Troponin T

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Abstract MP013: Strong Inverse Relation between Physical Activity and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.amp013 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth J Bell

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

African Americans ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Baseline Visit ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Introduction: Although there is substantial evidence that physical activity reduces risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the few studies that included African Americans offer inconclusive evidence and did not study stroke and heart failure separately. Objective: We examined, in African Americans and Caucasians in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC), the association of physical activity with CVD incidence (n=1,039) and its major components - stroke (n=350), heart failure (n=633), and coronary heart disease (n=442) - over a follow-up period of 21 years. Methods: ARIC is a population-based biracial cohort study of 45– to 64-yr-old adults at the baseline visit in 1987–89. Physical activity was assessed using the modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire and categorized by the American Heart Association’s ideal CVD health guidelines: poor, intermediate, and ideal physical activity. An incident CVD event was defined as the first occurrence of 1) heart failure, 2) definite or probable stroke, or 3) coronary heart disease, defined as a definite or probable myocardial infarction or definite fatal coronary heart disease. Results: We included 3,707 African Americans and 10,018 Caucasians free of CVD at the baseline visit. After adjustment for age, sex, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, hormone therapy use, education, and ‘Western’ and ‘Prudent’ dietary pattern scores, higher physical activity was inversely related to CVD, heart failure, and coronary heart disease incidence in African Americans and Caucasians (p-values for trend tests <.0001), and with stroke in African Americans. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CVD for intermediate and ideal physical activity, respectively, compared to poor, were similar by race: 0.65 (0.56, 0.75) and 0.59 (0.49, 0.71) for African Americans, and 0.74 (0.66, 0.83) and 0.67 (0.59, 0.75) for Caucasians (p-value for interaction = 0.38). Physical activity was also associated similarly in African Americans and Caucasians for each of the individual CVD outcomes (coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke), with an approximate one-third reduction in risk for intermediate and ideal physical activity versus poor physical activity- this reduction was statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings reinforce public health recommendations that regular physical activity is important for CVD risk reduction, including reductions in stroke and heart failure. They provide strong new evidence that this risk reduction applies to African Americans as well as Caucasians and support the idea that some physical activity is better than none.

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Abstract P079: Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.137.suppl_1.p079 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Xintong He ◽

Natalie Daya ◽

Casey M. Rebholz ◽

Mariana Lazo ◽

Elizabeth Selvin

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Body Mass ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Fasting Glucose ◽

Diabetes Risk ◽

Incident Diabetes ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Aric Study

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption has been reported to be associated with lower risk for diabetes with some studies showing a U-shaped association. Whether and how the association might differ by gender or obesity status is controversial. Objective: To evaluate the prospective association between alcohol consumption and the long-term risk of diabetes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Methods: A prospective analysis of 11,263 ARIC participants without prevalent diabetes (55% women, 81%white, mean age 54 years). Alcohol consumption was assessed at visit 1 (1987-1989). Participants were followed-up for incident diabetes defined by fasting glucose more than 126 mg/dL, non-fasting glucose more than 200 mg/dL, self-reported diagnosis of diabetes or use of diabetic medication. We used Cox models to estimate hazard ratios of diabetes risk by drinking categories in women and men, respectively. Results: During a median follow-up of 21 years, there were 3518 incident diabetes cases. In the fully adjusted model, compared to never drinkers, among women, 7-14 drinks/week was associated with a significantly lower risk of diabetes; whereas among men, 14-21 drinks/week was associated with a significantly lower risk ( Table ). There was a significant interaction between drinking categories and smoking status or between drinking categories and body mass index in women. Among women, a U-shaped association was mainly present among non-smokers, and significant decreasing risk is only found among normal-weight and overweight participants, but not obese participants. Conclusion: Low levels of alcohol intake (1-2 drinks per day for women and 2-3 drinks per day for men) are inversely associated with diabetes risk. The association is modified by smoking and body mass index in women.

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Abstract MP77: Projected Impact of Shifting Population Distributions of Blood Pressure on Rates of Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure and Stroke: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.127.suppl_12.amp77 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽

Author(s):

Shakia T Hardy ◽

Laura R Loehr ◽

Kenneth R Butler ◽

Patricia P Chang ◽

Aaron R Folsom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

African American ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Population Distribution ◽

The United States ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Introduction: Rates of cerebrovascular disease, heart failure (HF), and coronary heart disease (CHD), increase progressively as blood pressure rises. Several authors have estimated the theoretical effects of shifting the population distribution of blood pressure; however few studies have examined the degree to which modest decrements in blood pressure affect HF incidence, or included a racially diverse population. Methods: Incident HF was identified by a first hospitalization with discharge diagnosis code of 428.X. Incident hospitalized (definite or probable) CHD and stroke were classified according to protocol. We used multivariable regression to estimate incidence rate differences (IRD) for HF, CHD, and stroke that could be associated with a two mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in 15,744 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Results: Over a mean of 18.3 years of follow up, age-adjusted incidence rates for HF, CHD, and stroke were higher among African American than Caucasians (Table 1). After adjusting for antihypertensive use, gender, and age, a two mm Hg decrement in SBP across the total population was associated with an estimated 24/100,000 person-years (PY) and 39/100,000 PY fewer incident HF events in Caucasians and African Americans, respectively. The projected disease reductions were of smaller absolute magnitude for incident CHD and incident stroke. Extrapolation to the African American and Caucasian U.S. populations age greater than 45 years suggests that a two mmHg decrement in SBP could result in approximately 22,000 fewer incident HF events, 15,000 fewer incident CHD events, and 5,000 fewer incident stroke events annually. Conclusion: Our results suggest that modest shifts in SBP, consistent with what could theoretically be achieved through population level lifestyle interventions, could substantially decrease the incidence of HF, stroke, and CHD in the United States, especially among African American populations.

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Epidemiology of Heart Failure Stages in Middle‐Aged Black People in the Community: Prevalence and Prognosis in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.016524 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ramachandran S. Vasan ◽

Solomon K. Musani ◽

Kunihiro Matsushita ◽

Walter Beard ◽

Olushola B. Obafemi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Background Black individuals have a higher burden of risk factors for heart failure (HF) and subclinical left ventricular remodeling. Methods and Results We evaluated 1871 Black participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort who attended a routine examination (1993–1996, median age 58 years) when they underwent echocardiography. We estimated the prevalences of 4 HF stages: (1) Stage 0 : no risk factors; (2) Stage A : presence of HF risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease without clinical myocardial infarction), no cardiac structural/functional abnormality; (3) Stage B : presence of prior myocardial infarction, systolic dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, regional wall motion abnormality, or left ventricular enlargement; and (4) Stage C/D : prevalent HF. We assessed the incidence of clinical HF, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, and all‐cause mortality on follow‐up according to HF stage. The prevalence of HF Stages 0, A, B, and C/D were 3.8%, 20.6%, 67.0%, and 8.6%, respectively, at baseline. On follow‐up (median 19.0 years), 309 participants developed overt HF, 390 incurred new‐onset cardiovascular disease events, and 651 individuals died. Incidence rates per 1000 person‐years for overt HF, cardiovascular disease events, and death, respectively, were Stage 0, 2.4, 0.8, and 7.6; Stage A, 7.4, 9.7, and 13.5; Stage B 13.6, 15.9, and 22.0. Stage B HF was associated with a 1.5‐ to 2‐fold increased adjusted risk of HF, cardiovascular disease events and death compared with Stages 0/A. Conclusions In our large community‐based sample of Black individuals, we observed a strikingly high prevalence of Stage B HF in middle age that was a marker of high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

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Abstract 14482: Apparent Resistant Hypertension is a Marker of Risk: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_3.14482 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Magnus O Wijkman ◽

Marcus Malachias ◽

Brian Claggett ◽

Susan Cheng ◽

Kunihiro Matsushita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Antihypertensive Drug ◽

Resistant Hypertension ◽

Composite Endpoint ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Drug Classes ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Aric Study

Introduction: Apparent resistant hypertension (ARH) is a common marker of risk in patients with established cardiovascular disease. We ascertained the prevalence and prognostic significance of ARH in patients without prior cardiovascular disease. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 9669 community-based participants without a history of heart failure, myocardial infarction, or stroke, who completed the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study visit 4 between 1996-1998. The definition of ARH was blood pressure (BP) above goal (traditional goal <140/90mmHg, more stringent goal <130/80mmHg) despite use of ≥3 antihypertensive drug classes, or any BP with ≥4 antihypertensive drug classes. Participants with controlled hypertension (CH), defined as BP at goal with use of 1-3 antihypertensive drug classes, constituted the reference group. The outcome was a composite endpoint of heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. Cox regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race, BMI, heart rate, smoking, eGFR, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, and diabetes. Results: Applying the traditional BP goal, 154/9669 participants (1.6%) had ARH, and there were 2311 participants with CH (23.9%). Using the more stringent BP goal, 218/9669 participants (2.3%) had ARH, and 1523 participants (15.8 %) had CH. The median follow-up time was 19 years. Apparent resistant hypertension was associated with an increased risk for the composite endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio 1.58 [95% CI 1.32-1.90] with the traditional BP goal, and adjusted hazard ratio 1.51 [95% CI 1.28-1.79] with the more stringent BP goal). Conclusions: Apparent resistant hypertension had a low prevalence but was independently associated with adverse outcome during long term follow-up, compared to controlled hypertension and even compared to uncontrolled hypertension. This was observed for both traditional and more stringent BP goals.

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Abstract 061: Long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids and congestive heart failure incidence: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.a061 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Fumiaki Imamura ◽

Rozenn N Lemaitre ◽

Lyn M Steffen ◽

Aaron R Folsom ◽

David S Siscovick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Congestive Heart Failure ◽

Plasma Phospholipid ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Middle Aged Adults ◽

Long Chain

Background: Animal experiments in 1970s demonstrated direct cardiotoxicity of long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid (LCMUFA, 22:1 and 24:1 fatty acids) consumption. We recently found plasma phospholipid 22:1 and 24:1 to be associated with 34% and 75% higher risk (quintiles 5 vs. 1), respectively, of congestive heart failure (CHF) among older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study. We wished to validate these results in a second independent cohort of middle-aged adults. Methods: We evaluated 3,577 adults free of CHF at baseline (age=54.1±5.8) in the Minnesota subcohort of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) in whom plasma phospholipid LCMUFA were measured. Incident CHF was ascertained from 1988 to 2008 by annual phone contacts, hospitalization discharge codes, and death certificates. Using multivariate Cox models, we evaluated prospective association of each LCMUFA with incident CHF, and potential mediation via CHF risk factors, including ECG left ventricular hypertrophy, and incident coronary heart disease (CHD). As a negative control, we also evaluated incident stroke, given its many shared risk factors for CHF but no link to potentially direct cardiotoxicity. Results: Mean±SD plasma phospholipid levels (% of total fatty acids) of 22:1 and 24:1 were 0.01±0.03 and 0.58±0.17. Over the 64,438 person-years of follow-up, 330 CHF events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, higher levels of 22:1 and 24:1 were associated with higher risk of CHF (Figure). Hazard ratios (95%CI) for quintiles 5 vs. 1 of 22:1 and 24:1 levels were 1.57 (1.11–2.23) and 1.92 (1.22–3.03) (p trend=0.03 and 0.002), respectively. These associations were only partly attenuated by potential mediators, including incident CHD. Neither LCMUFA was associated with incident stroke (not shown). Conclusions: Higher 22:1 and 24:1 LCMUFA levels were associated with CHF risk in middle-aged adults, consistent with our prior findings in older adults. These findings support the possibility of clinical cardiotoxicity of LCMUFA in humans.

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