Alcohol and J-shaped curves.
Many studies report J- or U-shaped curves in describing the association between level of alcohol consumption and mortality. J-shaped curves may, however, be the result of complex associations between psychosocial and other confounding factors and health, rather than a simple causal association derived from the biological effects of alcohol. In this review, nine methodological issues are discussed: age and sex, causes of death, characteristics of abstainers, drinking pattern, smoking, diet, physical activity, social support and personality, and psychopathology.
Andréasson
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Karolinska Institute, St. Görans Hospital, Psychiatric Clinic for Addiction, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment