Dupuytren's disease, alcohol consumption and alcoholism.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between alcohol consumption and Dupuytren's disease.


METHODS
The participants were recruited from a previous study on Dupuytren's disease carried out in 1981-82 as part of a cohort study. Men with Dupuytren's disease in the former study and a control group were invited. The groups were matched for age and smoking habits.


METHODS
The study took place at the Heart Preventive Clinic in Reykjavik.


METHODS
Of 244 invited participants, 193 (79.1%) responded to the invitation; 137 had Dupuytren's disease and 56 were disease-free. Participants were examined for the presence of Dupuytren's disease and answered a questionnaire about alcohol habits.


METHODS
Alcoholism, alcohol consumption and signs of Dupuytren's disease.


RESULTS
Of the Dupuytren's group, 19 (13.9%) had been treated for alcoholism or were heavy drinkers compared to 8 (14.3%) of those without Dupuytren's disease (NS). Little or moderate alcohol consumption was reported in 78.1% of the Dupuytren's patients compared to 73.2% of the controls (NS). Total abstainers from alcohol were 11 (8.0%) in the Dupuytren's group compared to 7 (12.5%) in the control group (NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support a positive association between the use of alcohol and Dupuytren's disease.
Gudmundsson
K G
KG
The Health Care Centre, Blönduós, Iceland. kristgud@isholf.is
Arngrímsson
R
R
Jónsson
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology