Association of change in alcohol consumption with risk of ischemic stroke

The effect of serial change in alcohol consumption on stroke risk has been limitedly evaluated. A research team investigated the association of change in alcohol consumption with risk of stroke.
The study was a population-based retrospective cohort study from National Health Insurance Service database of all Koreans. 4,513,746 participants aged ≥40 years underwent 2 subsequent national health examinations in both 2009 and 2011. Alcohol consumption was assessed by average alcohol intake (g/day) based on self-questionnaires and categorised into non-, mild, moderate, and heavy drinking. Change in alcohol consumption was defined by shift of category from baseline. Cox proportional hazards model was used with adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, regular exercise, socioeconomic information, and comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index, systolic blood pressure, and laboratory results. Subgroup analysis among those with the third examination was conducted to reflect further change in alcohol consumption.
During 28 424 497 person-years of follow-up, 74 923 ischemic stroke events were identified. Sustained mild drinking was associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.86–0.90]) compared with sustained nondrinking, whereas sustained heavy drinking was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.02–1.10]). Increasing alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.06–1.17] from mild to moderate; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.19–1.38] from mild to heavy) compared with sustained mild drinkers. Reduction of alcohol consumption from heavy to mild level was associated with 17% decreased risk of ischemic stroke through 3× of examinations.
Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke, although it might be not causal and could be impacted by sick people abstaining from drinking, the authors state. Reduction of alcohol consumption from heavy drinking is associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke.
Source: Association of Change in Alcohol Consumption With Risk of Ischemic Stroke Su-Min Jeong, Han Rim Lee, Kyungdo Han, Keun Hye Jeon, Dahye Kim, Jung Eun Yoo, Mi Hee Cho, Sohyun Chun, Seung Pyo Lee, Ki-Woong Nam and Dong Wook Shin. Stroke August 2022 Vol 53, Issue 8.