Gemes K, et al. - The link between alcohol consumption and left ventricular (LV) function was evaluated during this study in a population with low average alcohol intake. No correlation was discovered between light–moderate alcohol consumption and measures of LV function. Nevertheless, it was suggested that consumption, especially when marked by binge drinking, appeared to be progressively associated with greater LV mass.

Methods

• From the third wave of the Norwegian HUNT study (2006-2008), 1,296 healthy participants who were free from cardiovascular diseases were randomly selected and underwent echocardiography.
• Following validation of the inclusion criteria, 30 participants were excluded because of arrhythmias or myocardial or valvular pathology.
• Assessment of alcohol consumption, sociodemographic and major cardiovascular risk factors was conducted via questionnaires and clinical examination in the HUNT3.
• Cross-sectional associations between alcohol intake and LV indices were done via general linear models.
• Measurement of LV functional and structural indices with tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography served as the main outcome.

Results

• No connections were revealed between alcohol consumption and multivariable-adjusted LV functional indices.
• When abstainers who reported regular alcohol consumption 10 years prior to the baseline were excluded, it did not alter the results.
• Data showed a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and LV mass indices (p < 0.01 for linear trend of the means).
• No such link was discovered among participants with non-risky drinking characteristics (p=0.67 for linear trend of the means).