A Meta-Analysis of Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol Consumption

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> PubMed was searched for reports published before June 2019. Data were extracted and combined odds ratios (ORs) calculated with random-effects models. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Finally, 46 studies were included (216,461 participants). The results of our meta-analysis indicated that there was a significant association between regular alcohol consumption and ED (OR 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81–0.97). There was no indication of publication bias (Egger’s test, <i>p</i> = 0.37). In the stratified analysis, the pooled OR of ED for light to moderate and high alcohol consumption was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72–0.94) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.67–1.00), respectively. No variable related to the source of heterogeneity was found in univariate and multivariate meta-regression analyses. A dose-response meta-analysis suggested that a nonlinear relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of ED was observed (<i>p</i> for nonlinearity &#x3c;0.001). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> A J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of ED was observed. Alcohol should be taken in moderate quantities in order to obtain the dual effect of disinhibition and relaxation. If taken chronically, it could provoke vascular damages.

The association between BMI self-selection, self-reported BMI and objectively measured BMI

Background: It is challenging to measure BMI accurately in population studies because it is an expensive and time-consuming task. As a result, subjectively measured BMI, calculated from self-reported height and weight, which we know to be inaccurate, is often used. The purpose of this study is to determine whether using a different, subjective method of measuring BMI, BMI self-selection, would be more accurate. BMI self-selection is determined by asking participants to place themselves in one of the BMI categories, underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. Methods: A quantitative survey conducted in the outpatient departments of two hospitals in the South West of Ireland. Participants >18 years were included. Pregnant women were excluded. The final sample included 70 participants. Survey completion, including self-reported height and weight and BMI self-selection, preceded the objectively measured weight and height. Demographic and lifestyle factors were also recorded. Results: 59% of the sample were overweight or obese –63% of females and 54% of males. The sensitivity for correct BMI self-selection for normal weight, overweight and obese categories was 90%, 36% and 33% respectively. The sensitivity for BMI categories calculated from self-reported height and weight was 83%, 57% and 59% respectively. In analysis, age, regular alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet and lower levels of physical activity were all associated with underestimation of BMI. Conclusion: BMI self-selection is an accurate tool when used with normal weight individuals but shows poorer ability to demonstrate accurate measurement in overweight and obese BMI categories. It is inferior to the traditional self-reported BMI method for measuring BMI levels in the general population. Presently, we recommend continuing with self-reported BMI for BMI measurement in large population studies. However, further testing of BMI classification in larger studies is suggested and investigation into alternative objective methods of measurement is warranted.

Ernst Kurz and Emil Kraepelin. About the influencing of psychological processes through regular alcohol consumption. Psychological work edited by Emil Krapelin. 3 B., 3 H., p. 417. Leipzig. 1900

In this interesting work, the authors set out to study the effect of daily consumption of average doses of alcohol on the intellectual performance (Leistungsfhigkeit) of a person. The experiments were carried out on two persons, doctors, of which A. 38 y., Full abstinence, and B 26 y. also unaccustomed to the correct use of alcoholic beverages. They received 80 grams of alcoh daily, most often before bedtime. abs. diluted with water, that is, the amount of alcohol, which is approximately contained in 2 liters of beer (which is generally considered to be moderate). With the observance of the possible correct mental and physical regime of the given persons, psychological work began daily at 9 am and lasted 2 hours without a break (each type of experiment was half an hour).

Sex-specific associations between alcohol consumption, cardiac morphology, and function as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging: insights form the UK Biobank Population Study

Aims Data regarding the effects of regular alcohol consumption on cardiac anatomy and function are scarce. Therefore, we sought to determine the relationship between regular alcohol intake and cardiac structure and function as evaluated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Methods and results Participants of the UK Biobank who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance were enrolled in our analysis. Data regarding regular alcohol consumption were obtained from questionnaires filled in by the study participants. Exclusion criteria were poor image quality, missing, or incongruent data regarding alcohol drinking habits, prior drinking, presence of heart failure or angina, and prior myocardial infarction or stroke. Overall, 4335 participants (61.5 ± 7.5 years, 47.6% male) were analysed. We used multivariate linear regression models adjusted for age, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, physical activity, cholesterol level, and Townsend deprivation index to examine the relationship between regular alcohol intake and cardiac structure and function. In men, alcohol intake was independently associated with marginally increased left ventricular end-diastolic volume [β = 0.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.05–0.24; P = 0.004], left ventricular stroke volume (β = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.03–0.14; P = 0.005), and right ventricular stroke volume (β = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.02–0.13; P = 0.006). In women, alcohol consumption was associated with increased left atrium volume (β = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.04–0.23; P = 0.006). Conclusion Alcohol consumption is independently associated with a marginal increase in left and right ventricular volumes in men, but not in women, whereas alcohol intake showed an association with increased left atrium volume in women. Our results suggest that there is only minimal relationship between regular alcohol consumption and cardiac morphology and function in an asymptomatic middle-aged population.

Heavy drinking habits are associated with worse in-hospital outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Introduction The association between alcohol consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease is well described in literature. Data regarding the impact of regular alcohol consumption on in-hospital outcomes in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are lacking. Purpose We aimed to evaluate the impact of self-reported alcohol consumption on in-hospital outcomes in patients with ACS. Methods Data derived from patients enrolled between 2007 and 2019 in the Acute Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland (AMIS) Plus registry were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality, while secondary endpoints were set as incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). Outcomes comparisons according to quantity of daily alcohol intake were also performed. Results Records concerning alcohol consumption were available in 25707 patients; 5298 of them (21%) fulfilled the criteria of regular alcohol consumption. Daily alcohol intake was reported in 4059 (77%), of these patients (regular drinkers) with 2640 light drinkers (≤2 drinks/day) and 1419 heavy drinkers (&gt;2 drinks/day). Regular drinkers were predominantly male, younger, smokers, more comorbid and with a worse clinical presentation as compared to abstainers/occasional drinkers. In-hospital mortality and MACCEs of heavy drinkers were significantly higher compared to light drinkers (5.4% vs. 3.3% and 7.0% vs. 4.4%, both p=0.001). When tested together with GRACE risk score parameters, heavy alcohol consumption was independently associated to in-hospital mortality (p=0.004). Conclusions Heavy alcohol consumption is an additional independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with ACS. Figure 1. Study flowchart. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): Swiss Heart Foundation

The Impact of Cigarette Excise Tax Increases on Regular Drinking Behavior: Evidence from China

(1) Background: Many studies have shown that increasing taxation on cigarettes does play a role in tobacco control, but few studies have focused on whether increasing cigarette excise taxes significantly affects alcohol consumption. In this article, we aim to examine the effects of China’s 2015 increase in the cigarette excise tax on residents’ regular drinking behavior. (2) Methods: Using survey data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we performed a panel logit regression analysis to model the relationship between the cigarette excise tax and regular drinking behavior. The Propensity Score Matching with Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) approach was adopted to determine the extent to which the cigarette excise tax affected residents’ drinking behavior. To test whether the cigarette excise tax could change regular drinking behavior by decreasing daily smoking quantity, we used an interaction term model. (3) Results: China’s 2015 increase in the cigarette excise tax had a significant negative effect on the probability of regular alcohol consumption among smokers, and the cigarette excise tax worked by reducing the average daily smoking of smokers. We also found that the regular drinking behavior of male smokers was more deeply affected by the increased cigarette excise tax than females. (4) Conclusions: Our research results not only give a deeper understanding of the impact of the cigarette excise tax, but also provide an important reference with which to guide future decisions concerning excise taxes imposed on cigarettes.

Prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics of persons who have never had a headache among healthy voluntary blood donors – a population-based study

Introduction Headache is an extremely prevalent disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 90–99%. However, a small fraction of people never experiences a headache. Research on people without headache could uncover protective factors in headache, but to our knowledge no study on headache-free individuals has been published. We aim to estimate the prevalence of headache-free individuals among Danish blood donors, and to describe the socio-demographics and health factors of headache-free participants. Materials and methods In all, 38,557 healthy volunteers were recruited as part of the Danish Blood Donor Study. Headache-free participants were identified based on the question “Have you ever experienced a headache of any kind?”. Utilising the Danish registries and self-reported questionnaires, we analysed socio-demographic and lifestyle factors using logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Results The prevalence of headache-free individuals was 4.1% (n = 1362) with a female-male ratio of 1:2.2. To be headache free was significantly associated with an employment status as a student, a low level of income and a regular alcohol consumption. Discussion The prevalence of headache-free individuals was comparable to population-wide studies of headache. To be headache free was not associated with a high socio-economic status. Further studies on people without headache will hopefully reveal protective factors in headache, and this novel approach might be useful in other very prevalent disorders.

ONCOLOGICAL CARE FOR THE PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN SVERDLOVSK REGION

HCC epidemiologic data in Sverdlovsk region are presented in current issue. 1293 of new cases of HCC were diagnosed since 2015 till 2019. The incidence rate of HCC in 2019 was 6,53 cases per 100000 people and standardized incidence ratio was 3,48 per 100000 people. The maximum of new cases was among the people older than 70 years. HCC developed in cirrhotic liver in 70,2% of cases. The main risk factors were virus hepatitis (49,6%), regular alcohol consumption (23%) and obesity (9,9%). The post-mortem diagnosis exceeds 40% of cases. The one-year mortality was 72-73%. The number of patients with HCC sent to the regional oncology dispensary increased in the last 5 years in 5 times. There were 124 of such patients in 2019. The majority has HCC at BCLC D stage (56,5%). Only 16,7% of patients received specialized treatment. The introduction of multidisciplinary team led to a doubling of annual number of treated patients with HCC.

Heavy Drinking Habits Are Associated with Worse In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Insight from the AMIS Plus Registry

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The association between alcohol consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease is well described in the literature, while data regarding the impact of regular alcohol consumption on in-hospital outcomes in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the impact of self-reported alcohol consumption on in-hospital outcomes in patients with ACS. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data derived from patients enrolled between 2007 and 2019 in the Acute Myocardial Infarction in Switzerland (AMIS) Plus registry were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified based on alcohol drinking pattern. Primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality, while secondary outcomes were set as incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). Outcome comparisons according to quantity of daily alcohol intake were also performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Records concerning alcohol consumption were available in 25,707 patients; 5,298 of them (21%) fulfilled the criteria of regular alcohol consumption. Regular drinkers were predominantly male, younger, smokers, more comorbid and with a worse clinical presentation as compared with abstainers/occasional drinkers. Daily alcohol intake was reported in 4,059 (77%) of these patients (regular drinkers). Among them, 2,640 were light drinkers (≤2 drinks/day) and 1,419 heavy drinkers (&#x3e;2 drinks/day). In-hospital mortality and MACCEs of heavy drinkers were significantly higher compared with those of light drinkers (5.4 vs. 3.3% and 7.0 vs. 4.4%, both <i>p</i> = 0.001). When tested together with Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score parameters, heavy alcohol consumption was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (<i>p</i> = 0.004). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our results support that heavy alcohol consumption is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with ACS.