A new study conducted by the American College of Cardiology suggests that women who consume more than eight alcoholic beverages per week are at a higher risk of developing heart disease compared to those who drink less. Binge-drinking was also found to further elevate the risk of heart health issues. The study involved data collected from over 432,000 individuals aged 18 to 65 who received care from the Kaiser Permanente health care system in Northern California. The participants did not have a history of heart disease or stroke, and the study aimed to identify links between alcohol intake and coronary heart disease.
The study revealed that even low levels of alcohol intake could increase the risk of heart disease, challenging the popular belief that moderate alcohol consumption is good for heart health. Dr. Jamal Rana, the lead author of the study, emphasized the need for increased awareness regarding the impact of alcohol use on heart disease risk. The study considered different levels of alcohol intake, with low intake categorized as 1-2 drinks per week for both men and women, moderate intake as 3-14 drinks per week for men, and 3-7 drinks per week for women, and high intake as 15 or more drinks per week for men and 8 or more drinks for women.
Over a four-year follow-up period, researchers found that individuals with higher levels of alcohol consumption had an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Women who reported a high alcohol intake of 8 or more drinks per week had a 33%-51% higher risk of heart disease compared to those with low alcohol intake. Binge-drinking was also associated with a significantly higher risk of heart disease, with women who engaged in binge-drinking being two-thirds more likely to develop heart disease compared to those with a moderate alcohol intake level.
The study results were particularly surprising for women in lower age groups, as older women are typically associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Dr. Rana highlighted the increasing prevalence of alcohol use among young and middle-aged women and emphasized the importance of following recommended alcohol intake guidelines. The study also noted that women process alcohol differently than men due to physiological differences, which may impact their susceptibility to heart disease. The study had limitations, including reliance on self-reported alcohol intake data, which could lead to underreporting of consumption levels.
The study is considered to be preliminary and has not yet been published in a medical journal. It was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Dr. Rana is scheduled to present the study results at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. The findings underline the importance of considering alcohol consumption as a potential risk factor for heart disease in both men and women, regardless of age, and highlight the need for further research in this area.
