title: Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to quantify the association between alcohol consumption and incidence of pneumonia and to examine possible pathways. This was done by a systematic review and meta-analyses on the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption or alcohol-use disorders and the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The relative risk (RR) of CAP increased monotonically with increasing alcohol consumption. Individuals consuming 24, 60, and 120 g of pure alcohol daily demonstrated RRs for incident CAP of 1·12 (95% CI 1·02-1·23), 1·33 (95% CI 1·06-1·67) and 1·76 (95% CI 1·13-2·77), respectively, relative to non-drinkers. Clinically defined alcohol-use disorders were associated with an eightfold increased risk of CAP (RR 8·22, 95% CI 4·85-13·95). In conclusion, alcohol was found to be a risk factor for pneumonia with a clear statistical association, and a monotonic dose-response relationship.
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Regulatory Policy, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. avsamokhvalov@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Samokhvalov
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors