Alcohol consumption and risk of stroke and coronary heart disease among Japanese women: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe study aims to examine the association between a wide range of alcohol consumption and risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. MethodsThe Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study was initiated in 1990 in Cohort I and in 1993 in Cohort II, with follow-up until 2009. The sample consisted of 47,100 women aged 40–69years. ResultsDuring an average of 16.7-years, the incidence of 1846 strokes and 292 coronary heart diseases was observed. Heavy drinking (≥300gethanol/week) was associated with increased risk of total stroke. The multivariable hazard ratios for heavy versus occasional drinkers were 2.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.45–3.30) for total stroke, 2.25 (1.29–3.91) for hemorrhagic stroke, 2.24 (1.05–4.76) for intraparenchymal hemorrhage, 2.26 (1.01–5.09) for subarachnoid hemorrhage and 2.04 (1.09–3.82) for ischemic stroke. In the exposure-updated analysis, the positive association between heavy drinking and risks of total stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and intraparenchymal hemorrhage became more evident. Light drinking (<150gethanol/week) was not associated with risk of ischemic stroke. There was also no association between alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease. ConclusionHeavy drinking was associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes among Japanese women.