Increased Stroke Risk Is Related to a Binge Drinking Habit

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk for all strokes, whereas moderate regular alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk for ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different drinking patterns on stroke risk, independent of average alcohol intake. Methods-A prospective cohort study of 15 965 Finnish men and women age 25 to 64 years who participated in a national risk factor survey and had no history of stroke at baseline were followed up for a 10-year period. The first stroke event during follow-up served as the outcome of interest (Nϭ249 strokes). A binge drinking pattern was defined as consuming 6 or more drinks of the same alcoholic beverage in men or 4 or more drinks in women in 1 session. Cox proportional-hazards models were adjusted for average alcohol consumption, age, sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, body mass index, educational status, study area, study year, and history of myocardial infarction. Results-Binge drinking was an independent risk factor for total and ischemic strokes. Compared with non-binge drinkers, the hazard ratio for total strokes among binge drinkers was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.35 to 2.54) after adjusting for average alcohol consumption, age, and sex; the association was diluted after adjustment for other risk factors. Compared with non-binge drinkers, the risk for ischemic stroke was 1.99 (95% CI, 1.39 to 2.87) among binge drinkers; the association remained statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusions-This study found that a pattern of binge drinking is an independent risk factor for all strokes and ischemic stroke.

Fracción de la mortalidad por accidente cerebrovascular atribuible al consumo de alcohol en Rusia

“…A Swedish cohort study reported a higher risk of ischemic stroke among occasional heavy drinkers than among life-time abstainers (Romelsjo & Leifman, 1999). In the prospective cohort study binge drinking pattern was an independent risk factor for all strokes (Sundell et al, 2008). Comparing with non-binge drinkers, the hazard ratio for total stroke among binge drinkers was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.35 to 2.54) after adjusting for average alcohol consumption and other potential confounders.…”

“…There is evidence that pattern of drinking may have modifying influence on stroke risk independently of the amount of alcohol consumed (Sundell, Salomaa, Vartiainen, Poikolainen, & Laatikainen, 2008). Previous findings indicated an acute detrimental effect of binge drinking as a trigger of stroke.…”

“…Other possible mechanisms include cerebral vasoconstriction and hyperhomocysteinemia (Sundell et al, 2008).…”

Stroke and the emergency medical services – enhancing performance within the chain of survival

“…Hypertension ICH, whereas current smoking, diabetes, apolipoproteins and cardiac causes are associated with ischaemic stroke (O'Donnel et al 2016). (Seshadri & Wolf 2007) Decreased dietary vitamin D intake (Brøndum-Jacobsen et al 2013) Cardiovascular diseases (Ferro 2003, O'Donnel et al 2010 Ethnic background (Howard et al 2016) Diet (O'Donnel et al 2010) Cervical artery stenosis (Autret et al 1987) Gender (Wolf et al 1992, Traylor et al 2012 Excessive alcohol consumption (O'Donnel et al 2010, Sundell et al 2008 Diabetes (O'Donnel et al 2010) Genetics (Traylor et al 2012) Illicit drug use (Fonseca & Ferro 2013) Dyslipidemia (O'Donnel et al 2010) Inadequate physical activity (Hu et al 2005, O'Donnel et al 2010 Hormonal treatment (Farquhar et al 2009) Increased salt intake (Strazzullo et al 2009) Hypertension (Kannel et al 1970) Low level of training and low socioeconomic position (Cesaroni et al 2009) Migrane (Spector et al 2010) Obesity (Strazzullo et al 2010) Periodontal disease (Lafon et al 2014) Psychological stress (Huang et al 2015) Prothrombotic state (Ferro et al 2010) Smoking (Shinton & Beevers 1989) Snoring and sleep apnea (Dyken & Im 2009) …”

Effects of Repeated Binge Drinking on Blood Pressure Levels and Other Cardiovascular Health Metrics in Young Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011‐2014

“…In middle‐aged and older adults, binge drinking is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and hypertension 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Binge drinking is also associated with an increased likelihood of developing prehypertension, previously defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 120 and 140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 70 and 90 mm Hg 6.…”