Alcohol sensitivity, alcohol use and hypertension in an older Chinese population: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.
Although the J-shaped association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure (BP) is well known, the effect of alcohol sensitivity on this relationship is less clear. We studied the association of alcohol sensitivity and alcohol use with BP and hypertension. This cross-sectional analysis included 19 335 older participants from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study recruited from 2003 to 2006, using clinically measured BP and self-reported alcohol use and alcohol sensitivity. Alcohol use was rare in women, in whom light-to-moderate drinkers (<140 g ethanol per week) without alcohol sensitivity had lower systolic and diastolic BPs (mean difference 5.3 (95% CI 3.8-6.9) mm Hg and 1.9 (1.1-2.7) mm Hg, respectively) and a reduced risk of hypertension (0.62 (0.53-0.72)) relative to never drinkers. Similarly, excessive drinkers (>or=140 g ethanol per week) without alcohol sensitivity had a significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP and risk of hypertension than did nondrinkers (mean difference 5.1 (2.8-7.4) mm Hg, 2.7 (1.5-4.0) mm Hg and 34% (8-66%), respectively, for men). These differences were even greater for men with alcohol sensitivity (mean differences 12.0 (8.9-15.2) mm Hg, 6.2 (4.5-7.9) mm Hg and 95% CI (46-159%), respectively). Alcohol sensitivity and alcohol use were both associated with elevated BP and risk of hypertension in an older Chinese population. Alcohol sensitivity may aggravate the effect of drinking on BP. Limiting alcohol use to two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women may be suitable for East Asians. Reduction of alcohol consumption should be an important public health target.
Zhang
Wei Sen
WS
Guangzhou Number 12 Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Jiang
Chao Qiang
CQ
Cheng
Kar Keung
KK
Adab
Peymane
P
Thomas
G Neil
GN
Liu
Bin
B
Lam
Kin-Bong Hubert
KB
Schooling
C Mary
CM
Lam
Tai Hing
TH
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008055:Lipids; D000431:Ethanol