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A single alcoholic drink was associated with a twice the risk of atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat, the researchers found.
The findings, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, appear to contradict the perception that alcohol can be “cardioprotective,” according to the University of California at San Francisco. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and involved 100 participants, most of whom were white men, and 56 had at least one episode of atrial fibrillation.
“Contrary to a common belief that atrial fibrillation is associated with heavy alcohol consumption, it seems that even a single alcohol intake can be enough to increase the risk,” said Dr Gregory Marcus, professor of medicine at UCSF Cardiology Division. A declaration.
“Our results show that the onset of atrial fibrillation could be neither random nor unpredictable,” Marcus said. “Instead, there may be identifiable and modifiable ways to prevent an episode of acute cardiac arrhythmia.”
The results also linked two or more drinks to a three-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation over the next four hours, and identified a correlation between the concentration of alcohol in the blood and an increased risk of an irregular heartbeat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Atrial fibrillation, often referred to as AFib or AF, is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia treated. Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too slowly, too fast, or irregularly. “
SOME ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MAY BENEFIT HEART DISEASE PATIENTS, SUGGESTED STUDY
The researchers conducted the study by recruiting patients from outpatient cardiology clinics at UCSF, who drank at least one alcoholic beverage per month. The study excluded people with a history of substance use disorders or alcohol, among others. Participants were instructed to wear an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor for approximately four weeks, with the push of a button after consuming a standard-size alcoholic beverage. They were also fitted with a blood alcohol sensor and had periodic blood tests indicating alcohol consumption in the previous weeks.
According to UCSF, study participants consumed an average of about one drink per day for the duration of the study. The study had its limitations, including the possibility that participants forgot to press the monitor, or neglected to do so “due to embarrassment,” although the sensor readings would not have been affected, according to the study. UCSF. The sample also did not include the general population, but was limited to patients with established atrial fibrillation.
“… This is the first objective and measurable evidence that modifiable exposure can strongly influence the risk of an AF episode occurring,” Marcus added in part.
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