Does Alcohol Consumption Increase the Risk of Ischemic Stroke?

Prior
studies of the association between alcohol consumption and ischemic
stroke have produced inconsistent results and have limitations.
To address these issues, researchers assessed alcohol intake and
prevalence of incident ischemic stroke (412 cases identified) in
38,156 male health professionals, aged 40–75 years, over
a 14-year period.

• In analyses adjusted for potential
  confounders, the risk of ischemic stroke among drinkers versus
  that of nondrinkers increased as alcohol consumption increased
  (relative risk [RR] 1.0 for <1 drink per day, RR 1.3 for 1–2
  drinks per day, and RR 1.4 for >2 drinks per day, P for
  trend=0.01). These findings were not significant when analyses
  were adjusted for hypertension.
• In analyses adjusted for beverage
  type, the risk of ischemic stroke decreased with increasing red
  wine use, compared with no red wine use (P for trend=0.02).
  This finding was not significant when analyses also adjusted for
  hypertension. Other beverage types did not significantly affect
  risk.
• The
  risk of ischemic stroke was lowest, though not statistically
  significant, in people who consumed 1–2 drinks on 3–4
  days each week (RR 0.7 compared with those who abstained).

Comments:

Although

this study reported some benefit from red wine use, its

clearest finding was the increase in risk of ischemic stroke

with increasing alcohol consumption, starting at 1–2
drinks per day. The complexities associated with beverage
type and pattern of use, as indicated in these findings,
highlight the challenge in making recommendations about
safer drinking.

Kevin
L. Kraemer, MD, MSc

Reference:

Mukamal

KJ, Ascherio A, Mittleman MA, et al. Alcohol and risk for

usual beverage. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(1):11–19.