title: Incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in Danish men and women with a prolonged heavy alcohol intake.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several epidemiological studies have found U- or J-shaped relationships between alcohol intake and cardiovascular conditions. The influence of heavy drinking is, however, sparsely studied. The objective of the present study was to examine whether alcohol addicts have higher incidence rates of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases than the population in general.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cohort comprised 19,185 subjects (15,368 men and 3,817 women) who attended outpatient clinics for alcohol abusers within the Copenhagen Hospital Corporation (1954 to 1992). Incidence rates were standardized (SIR) according to sex, age and calendar time to compare subjects' cardio- and cerebrovascular incidence with that of the general population of Copenhagen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period 1977 to 2001 a total of 9,397 events of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease were observed. In both men and women, statistically significant higher incidence rates than would be expected in a standard population were observed for cardiovascular diseases (e.g., ischemic heart diseases, men: SIR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.69-1.83; women: SIR = 2.44; 95% CI 2.19-2.73) and cerebrovascular diseases (e.g., hemorrhagic stroke, men: SIR = 2.71; 95% CI 2.45-2.99; women: SIR = 2.77; 95% CI 2.18-3.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates increased risks of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in subjects with an excessive alcohol intake.
authors: Centre for Alcohol Research, National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. ula@niph.dk
authors: Ulla Arthur
authors: UA
authors: Hvidtfeldt
authors: Marie Engholm
authors: ME
authors: Frederiksen
authors: Lau Caspar
authors: LC
authors: Thygesen
authors: Mads
authors: M
authors: Kamper-Jørgensen
authors: Ulrik
authors: U
authors: Becker
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Grønbaek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult