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Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2022, 19(1): 52-60 https://doi.org/10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2022.01.005
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 28 January 2022

Alcohol consumption in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population

Show Author's Information Xiao-Fei YE1,  Wei ZHANG2,  Yi CHEN2,  Chao-Ying MIAO1,  Qi-Fang HUANG2,  Chang-Sheng SHENG2,  Shuai SHAO2,  Dian WANG2,  Shao-Kun XU2,  Lei LEI2,  Di ZHANG2,  Yi-Lin CHEN2,  Lei-Xiao HU2,  Jia-Hui XIA2,  Yi-Bang CHENG2,  Ying WANG2,  Qian-Hui GUO2,  Yan LI2,  Nicole Lowres3,  Ben Freedman3,  Ji-Guang WANG1,2( )
School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Heart Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Center, and Cardiology Department, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Cite this article:
YE X-F, ZHANG W, CHEN Y, et al. Alcohol consumption in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population. Journal of Geriatric Cardiology, 2022, 19(1): 52-60. https://doi.org/10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2022.01.005
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Abstract Full text About this article
BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is a known modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation. The association, however, might differ according to gender. We investigated gender-specific associations between alcohol consumption and incident atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population.

METHODS

Our study participants were elderly residents (≥ 65 years) recruited from five community health centers in the urban area of Shanghai (n = 6,618). Alcohol intake was classified as never drinkers and current light-to-moderate (< 40 g/day) and heavy drinkers (≥ 40 g/day). Atrial fibrillation was detected by a 30-s single-lead electrocardiography (ECG, AliveCor® Heart Monitor) and further evaluated with a regular 12-lead ECG.

RESULTS

During a median of 2.1 years (interquartile range: 2.0−2.2) follow-up, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation was 1.10% in all study participants. It was slightly but non-significantly higher in men (n = 2849) than women (n = 3769, 1.30% vs. 0.96%, P = 0.19) and in current drinkers (n = 793) than never drinkers (n = 5825, 1.64% vs. 1.03%, P = 0.12). In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was interaction between sex and current alcohol intake in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounding factors, current drinkers had a significantly higher incidence rate of atrial fibrillation than never drinkers in women (12.96% [7/54] vs. 0.78% [29/3715], adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 10.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.54−29.67, P < 0.0001), but not in men (0.81% [6/739] vs. 1.47% [31/2110], OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.25−1.51, P = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed a significant association between alcohol intake and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Chinese women, but not men.


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About this article

Alcohol consumption in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population

Show Author's information Xiao-Fei YE1, Wei ZHANG2, Yi CHEN2, Chao-Ying MIAO1, Qi-Fang HUANG2, Chang-Sheng SHENG2, Shuai SHAO2, Dian WANG2, Shao-Kun XU2, Lei LEI2, Di ZHANG2, Yi-Lin CHEN2, Lei-Xiao HU2, Jia-Hui XIA2, Yi-Bang CHENG2, Ying WANG2, Qian-Hui GUO2, Yan LI2, Nicole Lowres3, Ben Freedman3, Ji-Guang WANG1,2( )
School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Heart Research Institute, Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Center, and Cardiology Department, Concord Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is a known modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation. The association, however, might differ according to gender. We investigated gender-specific associations between alcohol consumption and incident atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population.

METHODS

Our study participants were elderly residents (≥ 65 years) recruited from five community health centers in the urban area of Shanghai (n = 6,618). Alcohol intake was classified as never drinkers and current light-to-moderate (< 40 g/day) and heavy drinkers (≥ 40 g/day). Atrial fibrillation was detected by a 30-s single-lead electrocardiography (ECG, AliveCor® Heart Monitor) and further evaluated with a regular 12-lead ECG.

RESULTS

During a median of 2.1 years (interquartile range: 2.0−2.2) follow-up, the incidence rate of atrial fibrillation was 1.10% in all study participants. It was slightly but non-significantly higher in men (n = 2849) than women (n = 3769, 1.30% vs. 0.96%, P = 0.19) and in current drinkers (n = 793) than never drinkers (n = 5825, 1.64% vs. 1.03%, P = 0.12). In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was interaction between sex and current alcohol intake in relation to the incidence of atrial fibrillation (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounding factors, current drinkers had a significantly higher incidence rate of atrial fibrillation than never drinkers in women (12.96% [7/54] vs. 0.78% [29/3715], adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 10.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.54−29.67, P < 0.0001), but not in men (0.81% [6/739] vs. 1.47% [31/2110], OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.25−1.51, P = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed a significant association between alcohol intake and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly Chinese women, but not men.

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Published: 28 January 2022
Issue date: January 2022

Copyright

© 2022 JGC All rights reserved

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the participation of the patients and the technical assistance of Yu-Ting Jiang, Jun-Wei Li, Bei-Wen Lv, Jia-Ye Qian, Yi-Qing Zhang, Jie Zhou, Yi Zhou, Yi-Ni Zhou, Jia-Jun Zong (The Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Shanghai, China).

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