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Luo T, Lin S, Zhang W, Li X, Wang Y, Zhou J, Liu T, Wu G. Relationship between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China: a population-based cohort study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1211. [PMID: 38693482 PMCID: PMC11064324 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18686-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension among adults aged 18 or above in southwest China. METHODS A multistage proportional stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruited 9280 adult residents from 12 counties in southwest China, with all participants in the cohort tracked from 2016 to 2020. The questionnaire survey gathered information on demographics, lifestyle habits, and household income. The physical exam recorded height, weight, and blood pressure. Biochemical tests measured cholesterol levels. The chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical differences among categorical variables, while the Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension. RESULTS The finally effective sample size for the cohort study was 3546 participants, after excluding 5734 people who met the exclusion criteria. Adults in the highest household income group had a significantly lower risk of hypertension compared to those in the lowest income group (HR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.478-0.845). Besides, when compared to individuals in the illiterate population, the risk of hypertension among adults with elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and associate degree educational level decreased respectively by 34.4% (HR = 0.656, 95%CI: 0.533-0.807), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.436-0.697), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.405-0.750), 46.1% (HR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0. 340-0.854). After conducting a thorough analysis of socioeconomic status, compared with individuals with a score of 6 or less, the risk of hypertension in participants with scores of 8, 10, 11, 12, and greater than 12 decreased respectively by 23.9% (HR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.598-0.969), 29.7% (HR = 0.703, 95%CI: 0.538-0.919), 34.0% (HR = 0.660, 95%CI: 0.492-0.885), 34.3% (HR = 0.657, 95%CI: 0.447-0.967), 43.9% (HR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.409-0.769). CONCLUSION The findings indicate a negative correlation between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China, suggesting that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Luo
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Shenrong Lin
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Wenying Zhang
- Clinical College of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
| | - Xuejiao Li
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yiying Wang
- Guizhou Province Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 101 Bageyan Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Guizhou Province Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 101 Bageyan Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
- Guizhou Province Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 101 Bageyan Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Guofeng Wu
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
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Thelle DS, Grønbæk M. Alcohol - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Food Nutr Res 2024; 68:10540. [PMID: 38571916 PMCID: PMC10989238 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v68.10540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the updated evidence on the consumption of alcohol and health outcomes regarded as relevant for the Nordic and Baltic countries, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. It is based on the previous Nordic Nutrition Recommendations of 2012 and relevant papers published until 31 May 2021. Current evidence from mainly observational epidemiological studies suggests that regular, moderate alcohol consumption may confer protective effects against myocardial infarction (MI) and type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization analyses do not fully support these findings, possibly because these analyses may fail to identify low alcohol intake. For several cancers, it is not possible to set any safe limit. All-cause mortality is not increased with light to moderate alcohol intake in middle-aged and older adults who do not engage in binge drinking. Total abstinence is associated with the lowest risk of mortality in young adults. Observational studies on alcohol consumption are hampered by a number of inherent methodological issues such as ascertainment of alcohol intake, selection of appropriate exposure groups, and insufficient control of confounding variables, colliders, and mediators. It should also be emphasized that there is a socio-economic contribution to the alcohol-health axis with a stronger detrimental effect of alcohol in the lower social classes. The above issues contribute to the complexity of unravelling the causal web between alcohol, mediators, confounders, and health outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dag Steinar Thelle
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten Grønbæk
- National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Greenwood H, Barnes K, Ball L, Glasziou P. Comparing dietary strategies to manage cardiovascular risk in primary care: a narrative review of systematic reviews. Br J Gen Pract 2024:BJGP.2022.0564. [PMID: 38373850 PMCID: PMC10904132 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp.2022.0564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutrition care in general practice is crucial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management, although comparison between dietary strategies is lacking. AIM To compare the best available (most recent, relevant, and high-quality) evidence for six dietary strategies that are effective for primary prevention/absolute risk reduction of CVD. DESIGN AND SETTING A pragmatic narrative review of systematic reviews of randomised trials focused on primary prevention of cardiovascular events. METHOD Studies about: 1) adults without a history of cardiovascular events; 2) target dietary strategies postulated to reduce CVD risk; and 3) direct cardiovascular or all-cause mortality outcomes were included. Six dietary strategies were examined: energy deficit, Mediterranean-like diet, sodium reduction (salt reduction and substitution), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, alcohol reduction, and fish/fish oil consumption. Reviews were selected based on quality, recency, and relevance. Quality and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS Twenty-five reviews met inclusion criteria; eight were selected as the highest quality, recent, and relevant. Three dietary strategies showed modest, significant reductions in cardiovascular events: energy deficit (relative risk reduction [RRR] 30%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 13 to 43), Mediterranean-like diet (RRR 40%, 95% CI = 20 to 55), and salt substitution (RRR 30%, 95% CI = 7 to 48). Still, some caveats remain on the effectiveness of these dietary strategies. Salt reduction, DASH diet, and alcohol reduction showed small, significant reductions in blood pressure, but no reduction in cardiovascular events. Fish/fish oil consumption showed little or no effect; supplementation of fish oil alone showed small reductions in CVD events. CONCLUSION For primary prevention, energy deficit, Mediterranean-like diets, and sodium substitution have modest evidence for risk reduction of CVD events. Strategies incorporated into clinical nutrition care should ensure guidance is person centred and tailored to clinical circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Greenwood
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Science & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast
| | - Katelyn Barnes
- Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing, University of Queensland, Brisbane; senior research officer, Academic Unit of General Practice, ACT Health Directorate; School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra
| | - Lauren Ball
- Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing, University of Queensland, Brisbane
| | - Paul Glasziou
- Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Science & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast
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Rasoul D, Ajay A, Abdullah A, Mathew J, Lee Wei En B, Mashida K, Sankaranarayanan R. Alcohol and Heart Failure. Eur Cardiol 2023; 18:e65. [PMID: 38213665 PMCID: PMC10782426 DOI: 10.15420/ecr.2023.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is the most frequently consumed toxic substance in the world and remains a major global public health issue, with one in three adults consuming it worldwide. Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease, contributing to over 60 acute and chronic health conditions, with a particularly complex association with cardiovascular disease. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a range of cardiac complications, including decreased myocardial contractility, hypertension, arrhythmias, MI and heart failure. However, low-level alcohol consumption is believed to have a protective effect against ischaemic heart disease and diabetes. In most cohort studies, small to moderate amounts of alcohol consumption have not been linked to heart failure, indicating a threshold effect of alcohol with individual (possibly genetic) predisposition rather than a continuous effect of exposure. This review article explores the potential benefits of alcohol on the heart, the association between alcohol use and alcoholic cardiomyopathy and the epidemiology, clinical correlates and management of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debar Rasoul
- Cardiology Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool, UK
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of LiverpoolLiverpool, UK
| | - Ashwin Ajay
- Cardiology Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool, UK
| | - Alend Abdullah
- Cardiology Department, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation TrustDudley, UK
| | - Jean Mathew
- Cardiology Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool, UK
| | - Benjamin Lee Wei En
- Cardiology Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool, UK
| | | | - Rajiv Sankaranarayanan
- Cardiology Department, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLiverpool, UK
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of LiverpoolLiverpool, UK
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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; 80:1961-1969. [PMID: 37522179 PMCID: PMC10510850 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol consumption may increase blood pressure but the details of the relationship are incomplete, particularly for the association at low levels of alcohol consumption, and no meta-analyses are available for nonexperimental cohort studies. METHODS We performed a systematic search of longitudinal studies in healthy adults that reported on the association between alcohol intake and blood pressure. Our end points were the mean differences over time of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), plotted according to baseline alcohol intake, by using a dose-response 1-stage meta-analytic methodology. RESULTS Seven studies, with 19 548 participants and a median follow-up of 5.3 years (range, 4-12 years), were included in the analysis. We observed a substantially linear positive association between baseline alcohol intake and changes over time in SBP and DBP, 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 we identified an inverted U-shaped association. Alcohol consumption was positively associated with blood pressure changes in both Asians and North Americans, apart from DBP in the latter group. CONCLUSIONS Our 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Di Federico
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (S.D.F., T.F., M.C., I.I., M.V.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (S.D.F., T.F., M.C., I.I., M.V.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA (T.F.)
| | - Paul K. Whelton
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA (P.K.W.)
| | - Marta Cecchini
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (S.D.F., T.F., M.C., I.I., M.V.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Inga Iamandii
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (S.D.F., T.F., M.C., I.I., M.V.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Boriani
- Unit of Cardiology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (G.B.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Marco Vinceti
- CREAGEN - Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences (S.D.F., T.F., M.C., I.I., M.V.), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, MA (M.V.)
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Bekele TH, Trijsburg L, Brouwer ID, de Vries JH, Covic N, Kennedy G, Alemayehu D, Feskens EJ. Dietary Recommendations for Ethiopians on the Basis of Priority Diet-Related Diseases and Causes of Death in Ethiopia: An Umbrella Review. Adv Nutr 2023; 14:895-913. [PMID: 37182739 PMCID: PMC10334157 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) need to be evidence-based. As part of the development of Ethiopian FBDG, we conducted an umbrella review to develop dietary recommendations. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), deficiencies of vitamin A, zinc, calcium, or folate, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were selected as a priority. Systematic reviews were eligible if they investigated the impact of foods, food groups, diet, or dietary patterns on priority diseases. After a search, 1513 articles were identified in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar published from January 2014 to December 2021. The results showed that 19 out of 164 systematic reviews reported the impact of diet on PEM or micronutrient deficiencies. Daily 30-90 g whole-grain consumption reduces risk of CVD and T2DM. Pulses improve protein status, and consuming 50-150 g/d is associated with a reduced incidence of CVD and T2DM. Nuts are a good source of minerals, and consuming 15-35 g/d improves antioxidant status and is inversely associated with CVD risk. A daily intake of 200-300 mL of milk and dairy foods is a good source of calcium and contributes to bone mineral density. Limiting processed meat intake to <50 g/d reduces CVD risk. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins A and C. CVD and T2DM risks are reduced by consuming 200-300 g of vegetables plus fruits daily. Daily sugar consumption should be below 10% of total energy to lower risk of obesity, CVD, and T2DM. Plant-based fat has favorable nutrient profiles and modest saturated fat content. The association of saturated fatty acids with CVD and T2DM is inconclusive, but intake should be limited because of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-raising effect. Plant-based diets lower risk of CVD and T2DM but reduce micronutrient bioavailability. The review concludes with 9 key dietary recommendations proposed to be implemented in the Ethiopian FBDG. This review was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42019125490).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesfaye Hailu Bekele
- Food Science and Nutrition Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Laura Trijsburg
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inge D Brouwer
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeanne Hm de Vries
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Namukolo Covic
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gina Kennedy
- Knowledge Leadership, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dawit Alemayehu
- Food Science and Nutrition Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Edith Jm Feskens
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Kassavou A, Wang M, Mirzaei V, Shpendi S, Hasan R. The Association Between Smartphone App–Based Self-monitoring of Hypertension-Related Behaviors and Reductions in High Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e34767. [PMID: 35819830 PMCID: PMC9328789 DOI: 10.2196/34767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Self-monitoring of behavior can support lifestyle modifications; however, we do not know whether such interventions are effective in supporting positive changes in hypertension-related health behaviors and thus in reducing blood pressure in patients treated for hypertension. Objective This systematic literature review evaluates the extent to which smartphone app–based self-monitoring of health behavior supports reductions in blood pressure and changes in hypertension-related behaviors. It also explores the behavioral components that might explain intervention effectiveness. Methods A systematic search of 7 databases was conducted in August 2021. Article screening, study and intervention coding, and data extraction were completed independently by reviewers. The search strategy was developed using keywords from previous reviews and relevant literature. Trials involving adults, published after the year 2000, and in the English language were considered for inclusion. The random-effects meta-analysis method was used to account for the distribution of the effect across the studies. Results We identified 4638 articles, of which 227 were included for full-text screening. A total of 15 randomized controlled trials were included in the review. In total, 7415 patients with hypertension were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicate that app-based behavioral self-monitoring interventions had a small but significant effect in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP), on average, by 1.64 mmHg (95% CI 2.73-0.55, n=7301; odds ratio [OR] 1.60, 95% CI 0.74-3.42, n=114) and in improving changes in medication adherence behavior (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.78, 95% CI 0.22-1.34) compared to usual care or minimal intervention. The review found the intervention had a small effect on supporting improvements in healthy diet by changing habits related to high sodium food (SMD –0.44, 95% CI –0.79 to –0.08) and a trend, although insignificant, toward supporting smoking cessation, low alcohol consumption, and better physical activity behaviors. A subgroup analysis found that behavioral self-monitoring interventions combined with tailored advice resulted in higher and significant changes in both SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in comparison to those not providing tailored advice (SBP: –2.92 mmHg, 95% CI –3.94 to –1.90, n=3102 vs –0.72 mmHg, 95% CI –1.67 to 0.23, n=4199, χ2=9.65, P=.002; DBP: –2.05 mmHg, 95% CI –3.10 to –1.01, n=968 vs 1.54 mmHg, 95% CI –0.53 to 3.61, n=400, χ2=9.19, P=.002). Conclusions Self-monitoring of hypertension-related behaviors via smartphone apps combined with tailored advice has a modest but potentially clinically significant effect on blood pressure reduction. Future studies could use rigorous methods to explore its effects on supporting changes in both blood pressure and hypertension-related health behaviors to inform recommendations for policy making and service provision. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42019136158; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=136158
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Kassavou
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Wang
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Venus Mirzaei
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Shpendi
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rana Hasan
- The Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Fuchs FD, Fuchs SC. The Effect of Alcohol on Blood Pressure and Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 2021; 23:42. [PMID: 34762198 DOI: 10.1007/s11906-021-01160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the acute and chronic effects of alcohol on blood pressure (BP) and the incidence of hypertension. We discuss the most current understanding of the mechanisms underlining these effects and their associations with the putative cardioprotective effects of consumption of low-to-moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages. RECENT FINDINGS A recent meta-analysis confirmed findings of experimental studies, demonstrating an acute biphasic effect of ethanol on BP, decreasing up to 12 h of ingestion and increasing after that. This effect is mediated by vagal inhibition and sympathetic activation. A meta-analysis found that chronic consumption of alcoholic beverages was associated with a high incidence of hypertension in men and women; it also found that, in women, the risk begins at moderate alcohol consumption. The risks of alcohol consumption are higher in Blacks than in Asians or Caucasians. The mechanism underlying the chronic effects of alcohol on BP, and particularly the differential effect on Blacks, is still unknown. Short-term trials showed that alcohol withdrawal promotes BP reduction; however, the long-term effectiveness of interventions that aim to lower BP through the restriction of alcohol consumption has not been demonstrated. The harmful effects of alcohol on BP do not support the putative cardioprotective effect of low-to-moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages. The absence of a tangible mechanism of protection, and the possibility that this beneficial effect is biased by socioeconomic and other characteristics of drinkers and abstainers, calls into question the hypothesis that consuming low amounts of alcoholic beverages improves cardiovascular health. The evidence from investigations with various designs converge regarding the acute biphasic effect of ethanol on BP and the risk of chronic consumption on the incidence of hypertension, particularly for Blacks. These effects do not support the putative cardioprotective effect of consumption of low-to-moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages. Mechanisms of chronic BP increase and the demonstration of long-term benefits of reducing alcohol intake as a means to treat hypertension remain open questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio Danni Fuchs
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos 2350, Porto Alegre, 90035-900, Brazil. .,Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Sandra Costa Fuchs
- Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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