Gender Plays Role in Alcohol Effect on Heart

(July 16, 2008) - Alcohol seems to affect the heart health of men and women differently. The main impact would appear to have to do with how the amount of alcohol affects men and women. The volume of alcohol consumption may have a significantly different effect on heart and stroke (Read about "Stroke") risk in men and women, according to a study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

"An amount of alcohol that may be beneficial for men is not good for women at all," said Hiroyasu Iso, M.D., co-author of the study.

Researchers analyzed data from a survey of 34,776 men and 48,906 women (ages 40 to 79) to determine the association of alcohol use with the risks of stroke and heart disease. (Read about "Coronary Heart Disease") Participants who had not experienced cancer (Read about "Cancer: What It Is"), stroke or heart disease before the study completed questionnaires about their lifestyles and medical histories and provided information about their drinking.

Researchers calculated the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption after adjusting for age and several other risk factors, including smoking, weight, body mass index, the presence of high blood pressure or diabetes, exercise habits, stress, education and diet. (Read about "Body Mass Index" "Hypertension: High Blood Pressure" "Diabetes" "Stress")

During a 14.2-year follow-up, 1,628 participants died from stroke and 736 died from heart disease.

Men who reported drinking heavily (at least 46 grams of alcohol per day, equivalent to four or more standard alcoholic beverages) at the time of the survey had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease than nondrinking men. (Read about "Alcoholism")

But for that same group, heavy alcohol use was associated with an increased risk of death from all types of stroke by 48 percent. The risk of hemorrhagic stroke (caused by a blood vessel bursting in the brain) was increased 67 percent. The risk of ischemic stroke (caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain or leading to it) was higher by 35 percent.

In stark contrast, women who drank that much quadrupled their risk of heart disease death over that of nondrinking women. Light drinking (less than 23 grams of alcohol per day, about two drinks a day) reported on the survey was associated with a lower risk of heart disease death in women by 17 percent; while intake between 23 and 46 grams per day was associated with an increased risk of 45 percent.

"In women, we found a slightly reduced risk with light consumption but a much greater risk with heavy alcohol use," Iso said.

In women, heavy alcohol use was associated with a higher risk of stroke death by 92 percent. Hemorrhagic stroke death risk was increased by 61 percent. The risk of ischemic stroke death was increased 2.43 times.