The relationship of alcohol consumption with left ventricular mass in people 35 years old or older in rural areas of Western China

J Am Soc Hypertens. 2017 Apr;11(4):220-226. doi: 10.1016/j.jash.2017.02.002. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between alcohol intake and left ventricular mass (LVM) independent of the effects of blood pressure and other factors in rural areas of Western China. The present study included 1007 subjects (487 men and 520 women) aged ≥35 years from the Tongan district, Chongqing, China. The quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption were estimated from a validated questionnaire. Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular dimensions. Drinkers was associated with higher LVM compared with nondrinkers (β = 6.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-12.5, P = .015). A dose-dependent higher LVM across increasing alcohol consumption was observed (P < .05). LVM was significantly correlated with regular drinking (β = 10.0, 95% confidence interval: 3.6-16.4). In subjects with hypertension, quantity of alcohol consumption (P for interaction = .013) and frequency of alcohol consumption (P for interaction = .025) were strongly associated with higher LVM when stratified by blood pressure. However, interactions linked to age, body mass index, and gender were found to be no significant difference. These results indicate that both quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption are independent predictors of LVM in rural areas of Western China. The effects of alcohol consumption on LVM are enhanced among subjects with hypertension.

Keywords: Alcohol intake; hypertension.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Blood Pressure Determination
  • Body Mass Index
  • China / epidemiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications*
  • Hypertension / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / epidemiology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organ Size
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data