Alcohol consumption and risk of hospitalisations and mortality in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Public health recommendations on the benefits and harms of moderate alcohol intake require a thorough and unbiased understanding of all potential effects of various levels and patterns of alcohol consumption. A research team evaluated the associations between patterns of current and past alcohol consumption with hospitalisations and mortality.
Data came from a prospective cohort of 12,327 adults (56% women, 78% white, mean age 60 years) participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study visit 3 (1993-1995). Current and past alcohol consumption was based on self-report. Hospitalisations and mortality were ascertained through December 31, 2017.
24.8% of the study population reported never drinking, 48.3% reported currently drinking without a history of heavy drinking, 4.2% reported currently drinking with a history of heavy drinking, 19.2% reported being former drinkers without a history of heavy drinking and 3.4% reported being former drinkers with a history of heavy drinking. Compared to those who reported drinking ≤1-7 drinks/week, never drinkers [incident rate ratio (IRR): 1.21 (95% confidence interval 1.13, 1.29] and former drinkers with [IRR: 1.43 (1.26, 1.63)] or without [IRR: 1.21 (1.13, 1.30)] a history of heavy drinking had a positive association with all-cause hospitalisation (P<0.001). Those who reported drinking ≤1-7 drinks/week had the lowest all-cause mortality rate [19.2 per 1,000 person years (18.4, 20.1)] and former drinkers with a history of heavy drinking had the highest [43.7 per 1,000 person years (39.0, 49.1)].
The positive associations with hospitalisation and mortality were stronger among never and former drinkers compared to those who consume ≤1-7 drinks/week. Former drinkers with a history of heavy drinking had a stronger positive association with adverse health outcomes than former drinkers without a history of heavy drinking, highlighting the impact of this pattern of alcohol consumption.
Source: Daya, N.R., Rebholz, C.M., Appel, L.J., Selvin, E. and Lazo, M. (2020), Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hospitalizations and Mortality in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res.