title: Light to Moderate Alcohol Consumption Is Associated With Lower Risk of Aortic Valve Sclerosis: The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In developed countries, sclerotic and calcific degeneration of the aortic valve is a common disorder showing pathophysiologic similarities with atherothrombotic coronary disease. Light to moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a lower risk for atherothrombotic coronary disease and mortality. Whether alcohol consumption affects the development of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is not well known. In the present study, we aim to analyze the cross-sectional association between average daily alcohol consumption and AVS in the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed cross-sectional data from 2022 men and women, aged 45 to 81 years, from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. We used a computer-assisted interview that included beverage-specific questions about quantity and frequency of alcohol over the last 30 days to calculate the average quantity of alcohol consumption (in grams of ethanol per day). AVS was ascertained by echocardiography. The prevalence of AVS was 32.3%. Average daily alcohol intake displayed a J-type relation with AVS (fully adjusted P value: 0.005). Compared with individuals with an average consumption of 10 g of alcohol per day, multivariable-adjusted odds ratios were 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.14) among current abstainers and 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.41) among individuals with an average consumption of 60 g per day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that light to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower odd of having AVS. Prospective data need to address whether alcohol consumption and related changes over time in several biological markers affect the progression of AVS.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.). marcello.markus@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: Marcello Ricardo Paulista
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Markus
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stritzke
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siewert
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Troitzsch
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Manja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Stephan Burkhard
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Heribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schunkert
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Internal Medicine B (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F.), Department of Study of Health in Pomerania/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, Institute for Community Medicine (M.R.P.M., P.T., H.V., S.E.B.), and Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine (U.S.), University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany (M.R.P.M., M.D., S.B.F., H.V.); Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany (W.L., M.K.); Department of Cardiology, Asklepios North Sea Clinic, Westerland/Sylt, Germany (J.S.); Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (H.S.); DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany (H.S.); and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (S.E.B.).
authors.forename: Sebastian Edgar
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baumeister
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: alcohol consumption; aortic valve, calcification of; atherosclerosis; epidemiology; risk factors