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Alcohol consumption and lower extremity arterial disease among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.

TitleAlcohol consumption and lower extremity arterial disease among older adults: the cardiovascular health study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsMukamal, KJ, Kennedy, M, Cushman, M, Kuller, LH, Newman, AB, Polak, J, Criqui, MH, Siscovick, DS
JournalAm J Epidemiol
Volume167
Issue1
Pagination34-41
Date Published2008 Jan 01
ISSN1476-6256
KeywordsAged, Alcohol Drinking, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Intermittent Claudication, Male, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, United States
Abstract<p>Few studies of the relation of alcohol intake to lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) have included clinical events and objective measurements repeated longitudinally. As part of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a study of older adults from four US communities, 5,635 participants reported their use of beer, wine, and spirits yearly. Incident LEAD was identified by hospitalization surveillance. Technicians measured ankle-brachial index 6 years apart in 2,298 participants. A total of 172 cases of LEAD were documented during a mean of 7.5 years of follow-up between 1989 and 1999. Compared with abstention, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 1.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 1.71) for <1 alcoholic drink per week, 0.56 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.95) for 1-13 drinks per week, and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.53, 1.97) for > or =14 drinks per week (p for quadratic trend = 0.04). These relations were consistent within strata of sex, age, and apolipoprotein E genotype, and neither lipids nor inflammatory markers appeared to be important intermediates. Change in ankle-brachial index showed a similar relation (p for quadratic trend = 0.01). Alcohol consumption of 1-13 drinks per week in older adults may be associated with lower risk of LEAD, but heavier drinking is not associated with lower risk.</p>
DOI10.1093/aje/kwm274
Alternate JournalAm J Epidemiol
PubMed ID17971339
PubMed Central IDPMC: N/A
Grant ListN01-HC-15103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-35129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-45133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85084 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85085 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R21-AA-00499 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
U01-HL-080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States