Alcohol Intake Above 12g/day Linked to Higher Hypertension Risk
An article from Practice Update explores the relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of hypertension. Alcohol intake has been correlated with elevated blood pressure and a higher risk of developing hypertension, but the specific exposure thresholds and possible effect modifiers have remained uncertain.
Methods: Researchers conducted a systematic literature search through February 20, 2024, identifying 23 eligible nonexperimental cohort studies. They assessed the dose-response relationship between usual alcohol intake and hypertension incidence by computing risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a nonlinear meta-analytic model based on restricted cubic splines. This method allowed for an in-depth examination of the association between varying levels of alcohol consumption and hypertension risk.
Results: The study found a positive and nearly linear correlation between alcohol intake and hypertension risk. The risk ratios were 0.89 (0.84–0.94), 1.11 (1.07–1.15), 1.22 (1.14–1.30), and 1.33 (1.18–1.49) for alcohol intakes of 0, 24, 36, and 48 grams per day, respectively, using 12 grams of alcohol per day as the reference value.
Sex-Specific Analyses: In men, this association remained almost linear across the entire range of alcohol consumption. For women, however, the association was only observed above an intake of 12 grams per day, with a steeper increase in risk at higher levels of consumption compared to men.
Ethnicity and Geographical Variations: The increased risk of hypertension associated with alcohol intake above 12 to 24 grams per day was similar in both Western and Asian populations but considerably greater in White individuals than in Black individuals. This disparity was primarily driven by the strong positive association observed in women at moderate-to-high levels of alcohol consumption.
The findings support a causal relationship between alcohol consumption and hypertension risk, particularly above an intake of 12 grams per day. These results align with existing recommendations to avoid or limit alcohol consumption. Furthermore, sex and ethnicity are significant effect modifiers in the association between alcohol intake and hypertension risk.
Take-Home Message
This meta-analysis of 23 cohort studies demonstrates a positive and near-linear association between alcohol consumption and hypertension risk, especially with an intake of more than 12 grams of alcohol per day (less than one standard drink). These findings underscore the adverse health effects of alcohol and highlight the importance of reducing alcohol intake as part of comprehensive risk-reduction strategies, particularly for individuals with or at high risk for hypertension.
Source: Practice Update