Alcohol consumption and risk of stroke and coronary heart disease among Japanese women: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study

Objective: The study aims to examine the association between a wide range of alcohol consumption and risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Methods: The Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study was initiated in 1990 in Cohort I and in 1993 in Cohort II, with follow-up until 2009. The sample consisted of 47,100 women aged 40-69. years. Results: During an average of 16.7-years, the incidence of 1846 strokes and 292 coronary heart diseases was observed. Heavy drinking (≥ 300. g. ethanol/week) was associated with increased risk of total stroke. The multivariable hazard ratios for heavy versus occasional drinkers were 2.19 (95% confidence interval: 1.45-3.30) for total stroke, 2.25 (1.29-3.91) for hemorrhagic stroke, 2.24 (1.05-4.76) for intraparenchymal hemorrhage, 2.26 (1.01-5.09) for subarachnoid hemorrhage and 2.04 (1.09-3.82) for ischemic stroke. In the exposure-updated analysis, the positive association between heavy drinking and risks of total stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and intraparenchymal hemorrhage became more evident. Light drinking (< 150. g. ethanol/week) was not associated with risk of ischemic stroke. There was also no association between alcohol consumption and risk of coronary heart disease. Conclusion: Heavy drinking was associated with increased risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes among Japanese women.