A small amount of alcoholic beverages per day is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation

A study of about 108,000 people found that people who regularly drink moderate amounts of alcohol are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart beats with an abnormal rhythm.

Study published today (Wednesday) European Heart JournalFound that there is only one, compared to not drinking alcohol at all Alcoholic beverage One day was associated with a 16% increase in atrial risk Fibrillation Over an average (median) follow-up period of nearly 14 years. This means that 4 out of 100 Teetotalists can develop atrial fibrillation during the study period, but more than 75% of them consume alcohol from slightly higher amounts per week than alcoholic beverages. One cup a day. Researchers have classified one alcoholic beverage as containing 12 g of ethanol. This is equivalent to a glass of wine (120 ml), beer (330 ml), or 40 ml of spirits.

It is well known that people who drink a lot of alcohol on a regular basis are at increased risk of developing the disease. heart failure,and heart Failure can increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Some studies have shown that people who have never drank alcohol have a slightly higher risk of heart disease. They often show that this risk is reduced for those who drink moderate amounts, then rises sharply as alcohol is consumed, creating a “J” shape on the graph. Until now, it was not clear if this also applies to atrial fibrillation.

However, in a current study led by Professor Renate Schnabel, a consulting cardiologist at the University Heart and Vascular Center in Hamburg-Eppendorff (Germany), researchers found that low doses of alcohol reduced the risk of heart failure compared to tea totalers. We found that it was related, with no similar “J” -shaped risk reduction for atrial fibrillation. This suggests that heart failure did not cause an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in people who drink small amounts of alcohol.

Professor Schnabel said: “As far as we know, this is the largest study of alcohol consumption and the long-term incidence of atrial fibrillation in the community. Previous studies did not have enough power to consider this question. Alcohol intake And its relationship to other heart and vascular problems such as heart attack and heart failure. Our study can demonstrate that even very low regular alcohol consumption can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. ..

“These findings are important. Regular consumption of alcohol, a” one glass of wine “to protect the heart, is considered a risk, for example, as often recommended by the general press. It should not be proposed without balancing the interests. All heart and vascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation. “

The researchers analyzed information from 107,845 people participating in five community-based studies in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Italy. Participants underwent a medical examination when they participated in the study between 1982 and 2010 and provided information on their medical history, lifestyle (including alcohol and tobacco consumption), employment, and education level. A total of 100,092 participants had no atrial fibrillation at enrollment and had a median age of approximately 48 years (range 24-97 years).

During a median follow-up of nearly 14 years, 5,854 people developed atrial fibrillation. The association between alcohol consumption and the risk of atrial fibrillation was similar for all types of alcoholic beverages in men and women.

Researchers found that with increased alcohol intake, in addition to a 16% increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to Teetotalists found in people who drank only one drink a day. We have found that the risk increases. Drinking up to 2 cups a day increased the risk by 28%, and those who drank 4 or more cups increased this by up to 47%.

The exact mechanism by which moderate amounts of alcohol can cause atrial fibrillation is unknown. Studies show that short-term heavy drinking can cause “holiday heart syndrome” in some people, and in some patients with atrial fibrillation, small amounts of alcohol can cause episodes of arrhythmia.

The limits of the study include the fact that study participants reported the type and amount of DUI, which can lead to underreporting.With the information available, researchers were unable to investigate the effects of Binge-watching. DrinkingSome episodes of atrial fibrillation may be asymptomatic and may not be reported. It may not be possible to generalize the results to other populations, as only adults throughout Europe are included in the analysis. Because this study was observational, it could only show an association between alcohol intake and atrial fibrillation, not that alcohol was the cause. Atrial fibrillation..

In an accompanying editorial, Jorge A. Wong and David Konen of the Institute for Population Health at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, said the study “especially contributed to understanding the relationship between alcohol intake and accidental AF. I’m doing it. ” In the lower spectrum of alcohol consumption. A significant relationship was identified between alcohol and AF, and even small amounts of alcohol were associated with a small but increased risk of AF accidents.

“With recent randomized trials showing that reduced alcohol intake leads to reduced recurrence of atrial fibrillation, these data show that reduced alcohol consumption is important for both prevention and management of atrial fibrillation. It suggests that there is a possibility. Importantly, a low to moderate decrease. Alcohol consumption To potentially prevent AF, you need to balance the potentially beneficial associations that small amounts of alcohol may have with respect to other cardiovascular consequences. .. ..Net clinical benefits of consuming small amounts alcohol Ideally, in a well-powered randomized trial, further research is needed. Until then, each individual must make his or her own best-informed decision as to whether it is worthwhile and safe to drink up to one glass of alcoholic beverage per day. ”