Epidemiologic Follow-up Study in Middle-aged Finnish Men

Epidemiologic Follow-up Study in Middle-aged Finnish Men SANNA RANTAKÖMI Alcohol consumption, atherosclerosis and stroke Epidemiologic follow-up study in middle-aged Finnish men To be presented by permission of the IV V Rantakömi, Sanna. Alcohol consumption, atherosclerosis and stroke. Epidemiologic follow-up study in middle-aged Finnish men. ABSTRACT Alcohol consumption has been associated with a wide range of medical conditions. A J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of ischaemic stroke has been observed, indicating that moderate alcohol consumption is related to low risk of stroke, whereas heavy alcohol consumption leads to an increase in the risk of stroke. Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of stroke and stroke mortality. The aims of this thesis were to more closely investigate (I) the effect of binge drinking on the progression of atherosclerosis, (II) the relation of hangover and alcohol consumption with the risk of stroke, (III) the role of alcohol consumption according to the level of blood pressure and body weight with respect to the risk of stroke, and (IV) the association between the frequency of alcohol consumption and stroke mortality in a population-based sample of Eastern Finnish men. This prospective follow-up study was part of the FinDrink Study, a larger alcohol epidemiologic project. The subjects were a population-based sample of Eastern Finnish men from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD). The baseline examinations involved two cohorts of 42-to 60-year-old men, the first of which was examined during 1984-1986 (n=1,166) and the second during 1986-1989 (n=1,516). Binge drinking was associated with increased atherosclerotic progression at the 11-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant relationship between maximum change and in plaque height among men who drank ǃ 6 drinks per one occasion. The self-report alcohol intake response form covered the preceding 12-month period. Having at least one hangover per year was associated with increased risk of all strokes combined, and especially with ischaemic stroke. Hypertension and overweight, with the presence of alcohol consumption, were related to an elevated risk of stroke. There was a clear positive relation between the frequency of alcohol intake and stroke mortality. The risk of stroke death was increased among men who consumed alcohol ǃ 2.5 times per week. In summary, this series of studies demonstrated that binge drinking is associated with increased atherosclerotic progression. Blood pressure, overweight and alcohol drinking may have joint effects on stroke risk. In addition, hangover and the …