According to a new study published at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) scientific conference heart failure 2022, some countries believe that safe drinking levels are related to the occurrence of heart failure. "This study adds to the evidence that a more cautious approach to drinking is needed," said study author Dr Bethany Wong of St Vincent University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.
"To minimize the risk of heart damage from alcohol, don't start drinking if you don't drink. If you drink, limit your weekly consumption to less than one bottle, or less than three and a half 500ml 4.5% beers.".
According to the World Health Organization (who), the EU is the region with the largest amount of alcohol consumption in the world. The evidence that large amounts of alcohol may lead to heart failure is also recognized in the Asian population, although it is also known that large amounts of alcohol may lead to heart failure. "Due to genetic and environmental differences between Asian and European populations, this study investigated whether there is a similar relationship between alcohol and European heart changes in heart failure risk or pre heart failure," Dr. Wong said. "The treatment of this group is mainly the management of risk factors (such as alcohol), so the understanding of safety level is very important."
This is the secondary analysis of the stop-hf test. The study included 744 adults over the age of 40 who were at risk for heart failure due to risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity) or had pre heart failure (risk factors and cardiac abnormalities but no symptoms). The average age of the sample was 66.5 years old, and 53% were women. The study excluded people who had previously drunk alcohol and patients with symptomatic heart failure (such as shortness of breath, fatigue, decreased exercise ability, swollen ankles). Cardiac function was measured by echocardiography at baseline and follow-up.
The study used the Irish definition of a glass of standard wine (i.e. a unit), i.e. 10 grams of alcohol. Participants were classified according to their weekly alcohol intake: 1) none; 2) Low (less than seven units; up to one bottle of 750 mL of 12.5% wine or three and a half cans of 4.5% beer); 3) Moderate (7-14 units; up to two bottles of 12.5% wine or seven cans of 500 ml of 4.5% beer); 4) Height (more than 14 units; more than two bottles of 12.5% wine or seven cans of 500 ml of 4.5% beer).
The researchers analyzed the relationship between a median of 5.4 years of alcohol consumption and heart health. The results of high-risk group and pre heart failure group were reported respectively. In the high-risk group, deterioration of heart health was defined as progression to pre heart failure or symptomatic heart failure. For the pre heart failure group, deterioration of heart health was defined as deterioration of cardiac compression or relaxation function or progression to symptomatic heart failure. These analyses adjusted for factors that might affect cardiac structure, including age, gender, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and vascular disease.
A total of 201 (27%) patients reported no alcohol consumption, while 356 (48%) were low users and 187 (25%) had moderate or high intake. Compared with the low intake group, those with moderate or high use were younger, more likely to be men, and had a higher body mass index.
In the pre heart failure group, moderate or high intake was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk of deterioration of heart health compared with non drinking. This relationship was also observed when analyzing moderate and high, respectively. In high-risk groups, there was no association between moderate or high alcohol consumption and progression to pre heart failure or symptomatic heart failure. No protective association was found with low alcohol intake.
Dr Wong said: "Our study shows that in Europeans, drinking more than 70 grams per week is associated with worsening or progression to symptomatic heart failure before heart failure. We did not observe any benefits of low alcohol consumption. Our results suggest that countries should advocate reducing safe alcohol intake limits for patients before heart failure. For example, in Ireland, those at risk of heart failure or patients with pre heart failure are recommended to limit weekly alcohol intake There are 11 units for women and 17 units for men. This limit for men is more than twice the amount of safety we found. More research among Caucasians is needed to adjust the results and reduce the mixed information of clinicians, patients and the public. "