Paradoxical increase of positive answers to the Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire during a period of decreasing alcohol consumption: results from two population-based surveys in Île-de-France, 1991 and 2005

Introduction: Although current alcohol consumption appears to be a risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation (AF), limitations related to self-reported alcohol use and confounding in observational studies limit the certainty of conclusions regarding causality. Whether cessation of alcohol consumption can protect against incident AF remains unknown. Methods: We examined all participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a population-based cohort of 15,792 men and women aged 45-65, without prevalent AF. Past alcohol consumption was assessed via self-report during the baseline dietary intake assessment. Cases of incident AF were ascertained via study ECGs, hospital discharge ICD-9 codes, and death certificates. Results: Among 15,262 participants with complete survey data, 2,898 (19.0%) were former drinkers. During an average follow-up of 17.4 years, there were 380 cases of incident AF in former consumers. Both before and after adjustment for potential confounders, a longer duration of alcohol abstinence was associated with a lower risk of developing AF; previously consuming alcohol for a longer duration and consuming a greater quantity of alcohol were each associated with a higher risk of developing AF (Table). Conclusions: Among former drinkers, the number of years of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed may each confer an increased risk of AF. Given that a longer duration of abstinence was associated with a decreased risk of AF, modification of alcohol use could potentially play a role in AF prevention.

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Serum paraoxonase-1 activity is associated with light to moderate alcohol consumption: the PREVEND cohort study

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqy217 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 108 (6) ◽

pp. 1283-1290 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Eke G Gruppen ◽

Stephan J L Bakker ◽

Richard W James ◽

Robin P F Dullaart

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Paraoxonase 1 ◽

Phenyl Acetate ◽

Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT Background Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme with antioxidative properties, which may protect against the development of cardiovascular disease. Alcohol consumption increases HDL cholesterol, but the extent to which alcohol consumption gives rise to higher serum PON-1 activity is uncertain. Objective In a population-based study, we determined the relation of serum PON-1 activity with alcohol consumption when taking account of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), its major apolipoprotein. Design A cross-sectional study was performed in 8224 participants of the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease (PREVEND) cohort. Alcohol consumption was categorized as 1) no/rarely (25.3%); 2) 0.1–10 g/d (49.3%); 3) 10–30 g/d (20.1%); and 4) >30 g/d (5.2%) with 1 drink equivalent to 10 g alcohol. Serum PON-1 activity was measured as its arylesterase activity (phenyl acetate as substrate). Results Median serum PON-1 activity was 50.8, 53.1, 54.4, and 55.7 U/L in the 4 categories of alcohol consumption, respectively (P < 0.001). Its increase paralleled the increments in HDL cholesterol and apoA-I. Notably, there was no further increase in PON-1 activity, HDL cholesterol, and apoA-I when alcohol consumption was increased from 10–30 g/d to >30 g/d. Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that PON-1 activity was related to alcohol consumption independently from clinical covariates, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and lipid concentrations, including HDL cholesterol (P < 0.001 for each category of alcohol consumption with no alcohol consumption as the reference category). Notably, as inferred from standardized β-coefficients, there was no difference in PON-1 activity between 10–30 g alcohol/d and >30 g alcohol/d. Conclusions Alcohol consumption is associated with an increase in serum PON-1 activity, but its effect seems to reach a plateau with alcohol consumption of 10–30 g/d.

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Alcohol consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness in five population-based studies

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487317738594 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 164-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sebastian E Baumeister ◽

Jonas D Finger ◽

Sven Gläser ◽

Marcus Dörr ◽

Marcello RP Markus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Polynomial Regression ◽

Population Based ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽

P Value ◽

Independent Population ◽

Average Alcohol

Background Poor cardiorespiratory fitness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. Alcohol consumption contributes substantially to the burden of disease, but its association with cardiorespiratory fitness is not well described. We examined associations between average alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking and cardiorespiratory fitness. Design The design of this study was as a cross-sectional population-based random sample. Methods We analysed data from five independent population-based studies (Study of Health in Pomerania (2008–2012); German Health Interview and Examination Survey (2008–2011); US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000; NHANES 2001–2002; NHANES 2003–2004) including 7358 men and women aged 20–85 years, free of lung disease or asthma. Cardiorespiratory fitness, quantified by peak oxygen uptake, was assessed using exercise testing. Information regarding average alcohol consumption (ethanol in grams per day (g/d)) and heavy episodic drinking (5+ or 6+ drinks/occasion) was obtained from self-reports. Fractional polynomial regression models were used to determine the best-fitting dose-response relationship. Results Average alcohol consumption displayed an inverted U-type relation with peak oxygen uptake ( p-value<0.0001), after adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking and physical activity. Compared to individuals consuming 10 g/d (moderate consumption), current abstainers and individuals consuming 50 and 60 g/d had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake values (ml/kg/min) (β coefficients = −1.90, β = −0.06, β = −0.31, respectively). Heavy episodic drinking was not associated with peak oxygen uptake. Conclusions Across multiple adult population-based samples, moderate drinkers displayed better fitness than current abstainers and individuals with higher average alcohol consumption.

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