Is Self-Reported “Moderate” Drinking in the Cardiovascular Benefit Range Associated with Alcoholic Behavior? A Population Based Study

ABSTRACT

This article aims at identifying a threshold number of drinks per day beyond which there is a high risk of developing alcoholic behavior that would enable physicians to more confidently support the use of alcohol for cardiovascular risk prevention. In a randomly selected, population-based sample of 2,042 adults 45 years or older, we graded alcohol drinking behavior using the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test, quantified alcohol amount by questionnaire, and assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (coronary, peripheral, or cerebrovascular disease) by medical record review. Although optimal alcohol use (≤2 drinks/day) was associated with reduced odds of cardiovascular disease, 43% of alcoholics and 82% of problem drinkers reported alcohol use in the optimal range as well. The association of alcohol use in the optimal range with alcohol-related behavioral problems supports the reluctance in physicians from recommending alcohol use for cardiovascular benefit, not withstanding the underreporting of alcohol use by alcoholics.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcoholism
• risk factor
• coronary heart disease
• alcohol

Supported by grants from the Public Health Service (NIH HL 555902 and the Mayo Foundation.

Notes

∗Abstainers, alcoholics, and (user + NAPD) are different from each other p = < .05.

∗p < .05 in pair-wise comparison.