Less Atherosclerosis Progression in Women With Coronary Artery Disease Who Drink

To
assess the association between alcohol intake and the progression
of coronary atherosclerosis, researchers examined data from 93
Swedish women (aged 65 or younger) who had been hospitalized with
acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris, underwent
quantitative coronary angiography, and had repeat angiography 2–5
years later. Results from analyses adjusted for potential confounders
(i.e., age, smoking, body-mass index, education, physical activity,
index cardiac event, menopausal status, diabetes, and history of
dyslipidemia) include the following:

• The
  adjusted-mean coronary luminal diameter (averaged over the
  arterial distribution) significantly decreased among abstainers
  and those who drank >0 g–5 g of alcohol per day (0.14
  mm decrease in both groups).
• The
  luminal diameter did not change significantly among those who
  drank >5 g per day (0.05 mm increase).
• Results
  did not significantly differ by beverage type.

Comments:

This
is a relatively small study, but one of few using repeat
angiograms to evaluate the progression of coronary atherosclerosis
in women. The investigators meticulously evaluated these angiograms,
looking at multiple areas along 10 different segments of the coronary
arteries. Taken in conjunction with other recent research showing an
association between moderate alcohol intake and decreased restenosis
of stents, this study supports a protective effect of light drinking
against atherosclerosis progression in patients who already have evidence
of severe coronary artery disease.

R. Curtis Ellison, MD

Reference:

Janszky I, Mukamal KJ, Orth-Gomér K, et al. Alcohol consumption and coronary atherosclerosis progression: the Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Angiographic Study.Atherosclerosis. 2004;176(2):311-319.