Alcohol intake and blood pressure levels: a dose-response meta-analysis of nonexperimental cohort studies

Researchers performed a systematic search of longitudinal studies in healthy adults that reported on the association between alcohol intake and blood pressure.
Seven studies, with 19 548 participants and a median follow-up of 5.3 years (range 4–12 years), were included in the analysis. A substantially linear positive association between baseline alcohol intake and changes over time in SBP and DBP was observed, with no suggestion of an exposure-effect threshold. Overall, average SBP was 1.25 and 4.90 mm Hg higher for 12 or 48 grams of daily alcohol consumption, compared with no consumption. The corresponding differences for DBP were 1.14 and 3.10 mm Hg. Subgroup analyses by sex showed an almost linear association between baseline alcohol intake and SBP changes in both men and women, and for DBP in men while in women an inverted U-shaped association was identified. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with blood pressure changes in both Asians and North Americans, apart from DBP in the latter group.
The results suggest the association between alcohol consumption and SBP is direct and linear with no evidence of a threshold for the association, while for DBP the association is modified by sex and geographic location.
Source: Di Federico S, Filippini T, Whelton PK, Cecchini M, Iamandii I, Boriani G, Vinceti M. Alcohol intake and blood pressure levels: A dose-response meta-analysis of nonexperimental cohort studies. Hypertension. 2023 Jul 31.