Association of blood pressure and hypertension with alcohol consumption in HIV-infected white and nonwhite patients.
BACKGROUND
Although alcohol abuse is associated with hypertension in whites and nonwhites, it has been scarcely investigated in HIV-infected patients.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the association of alcohol abuse with hypertension is influenced by skin color in HIV-infected individuals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in HIV-infected individuals aged 18 years or older. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and HIV infection were investigated. Alcohol abuse was defined as ≥ 15 (women) and ≥ 30 g/alcohol/day (men), and binge drinking by the intake of ≥ 5 drinks on a single occasion. Hypertension was defined by blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg or use of blood pressure-lowering agents.


RESULTS
We studied 1,240 individuals, with 39.1 ± 10 years, 51% males and 57% whites. Age and body mass index were associated with blood pressure, and there was an independent association of alcohol abuse with hypertension in whites (RR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3) and nonwhites (RR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.0). Among nonwhite individuals who were alcohol abusers, systolic (9.3 ± 3.2; P = 0.001) and diastolic blood pressures (6.4 ± 2.1; P = 0.008) were higher than in nonabusers.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for hypertension in white and nonwhite HIV-infected individuals. The association of ethanol consumption with blood pressure is not explained by AIDS-related conditions.
Postgraduate Program in Cardiology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, R. Ramiro Barcelos 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil ; Hospital Sanatório Partenon, Health State Department of Rio Grande do Sul 3722, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 90650-001 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Maria Leticia R
ML
Ikeda
Nêmora T
NT
Barcellos
Paulo R
PR
Alencastro
Fernando H
FH
Wolff
Ajácio B M
AB
Brandão
Flávio D
FD
Fuchs
Sandra C
SC
Fuchs
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People