P.013 Blood Pressure, Arterial Rigidity and Alcohol Intake in a Population Sample

Abstract

Objectives

Increased alcohol intake impaires the control of hypertension in treated patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between weekly alcohol intake, blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Methods

257 subjects (m126, f131 mean age 48.04 ± 0.66) were selected from population- based postMONICA study. Arterial stiffness was measured using Sphygmocor device as aortic pulse wave velocity (APWV) and radial augmentation index (RAIx), the one-week alcohol intake was ascertained by diet recall.

Results

The sample was divided according to reported weekly intake of pure alcohol into 3 categories: none or minimal intake (0–42g), mild drinkers (43–154 g) and moderate to heavy drinkers (> 154g). Among these categories, significant increasing trend in blood pressure and aortic rigidity were found (see table). These trends remained significant even after adjustment for age, current smoking, body mass index, antihypertensive treatment, LDL and glyceamia as potentially confounding factors of hypertension and/or increased arterial rigidity.

Table 1

Conclusion

Moderate to heavy drinkers showed in our general population sample gradually higher blood pressure, probably because of increased aortic stiffness.