Alcohol consumption in relation to cardiovascular risk and mortality

It is known that drinking alcohol in moderation is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and total mortality in healthy subjects, whereas its abuse is unquestionably harmful. This thesis has confirmed previous studies in healthy people and has extended them to the association of alcohol consumption with cardiovascular and total mortality in cardiovascular patients. Highly sophisticated statistical analyses have been used to dissect the issue. In both healthy subjects and cardiovascular patients, teetotalers and heavy drinkers are at the highest risk whereas light-moderate drinkers are at the lowest risk. A similar relationship was found when either wine or beer consumption were considered. In conclusions: there is no reason to discourage either healthy persons or cardiovascular patients, if they are regular light-moderate alcohol consumers from continuing. Heavy or binge drinkers should always be urged to cut and modify their consumption.