title: Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular diseases in rural China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to update the current information on alcohol consumption and evaluate the associations between drinking status and cardiovascular diseases in a general population from rural China.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study examined a total of 11,269 adults using a multi-stage cluster sampling method to select a representative sample of individuals 35years or older. Related medical histories were obtained using a standard questionnaire, and blood biochemical indexes were collected by well-trained personnel. Participants were asked for information about whether they regularly consumed alcohol, their average alcohol consumption per day, and the number of days per month that they consumed alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This population consisted of 75.8% non-drinkers, 7.5% moderate drinkers, and 16.7% heavy drinkers. And the mean alcohol consumption per day for the total population was 15.29±0.35g/d (women: 1.0±0.11g/d and men 32.5±0.69g/d, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that heavy drinkers had an approximately 1.3-fold and 1.7-fold greater risk for coronary heart disease and hypertension, respectively (OR: 1.252, 95% CI: 1.012 to 1.549; OR: 1.741, 95% CI: 1.519 to 1.994, respectively) compared with that of the non-drinking group. After fully adjusting the data for all variables, the data showed no significant association between moderate alcohol consumption and CHD, HT or ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol consumption in rural populations is high, particularly in men. Heavy drinking is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and hypertension, but not for ischemic stroke. There was no significant association between moderate alcohol consumption and CHD, HT or ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yinglong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Library, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
authors.forename: Liqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Electronic address: sunyingxian121@126.com.
authors.forename: Yingxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Abraham Marria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roselle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Cardiovascular disease; Hypertension; Ischemic stroke