Consuming Alcohol May Decrease Risk for HF and Mortality Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation

In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), consuming alcohol is associated with decreased risk for mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization compared with abstaining from alcohol, according to results of a study presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022, held from November 5th through 7th, in Chicago, Illinois.

As the role of alcohol consumption in AF remains poorly understood, investigators from Population Health Research Institute and McMaster University in Canada performed this cross-sectional analysis using data from the RE-LY AF registry. Patients (N=15,400) with AF who presented at the emergency department in 46 countries and had 1-year follow-up data were evaluated for stroke or systemic embolism, HF hospitalization, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality risk. Patients were stratified by whether they did not drink alcohol (n=12,091), had light alcohol consumption (<7 standard drinks per week; n=1150), had moderate alcohol consumption (7-13 standard drinks per week; n=458), or had heavy alcohol consumption (³14 standard drinks per week; n=359).

The mean patient age was 65.9 years and 48% were women.

Among the whole study population, 3.1% to 4.8% had a stroke or systemic embolism, 7.0% to 13.2% were hospitalized for HF, 1.6% to 3.6% had a major bleeding event, and 3.7% to 11.1% died. Patients who did not drink alcohol had the highest rate of stroke or systemic embolism events, HF hospitalization, and all-cause mortality and patients who had heavy alcohol consumption had the highest rate of major bleeding events.

Compared with the patients who did not drink alcohol, patients with light alcohol consumption had decreased risk for HF hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.95) and all-cause mortality (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.58), patients with moderate alcohol consumption had decreased risk for HF hospitalization (aOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.85) and all-cause mortality (aOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.26-0.68), and patients with heavy alcohol consumption had decreased risk for all-cause mortality (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.97).

Alcohol consumption did not significantly affect stoke, systemic embolism, or major bleeding risk.

This study may be limited by relying on self-reported alcohol consumption.

These data indicate that, compared with patients who do not consume alcohol, patients with AF who have light or moderate alcohol consumption have decreased risk for HF hospitalization and mortality.

Disclosure: Multiple authors declared affiliations with industry. Please refer to the original article for a full list of disclosures.