Abstract
Background s: Alcohol consumption is one of the important modifiable risk factors for stroke in young adults. The association between the cumulative burden of alcohol consumption and its impact on incident stroke in young adults is unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between cumulative alcohol burden and the risk for stroke among young adults.
Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, subjects between 20 and 39 years of age, who underwent 4 consecutive annual health examinations between 2009 and 2012, were included. The cumulative alcohol burden score of moderate to heavy drinking was evaluated by assigning a score of 1 for alcohol consumption ≥105 g/week at the health examination each year and calculating the sum of 4 years (0 to 4). Main outcome was incident stroke and its subtypes, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke during the follow-up period.
Results: Of 1 536 668 subjects (mean age of 29.5 years, male of 71.5%, median follow-up of 6-year), 3 153 experienced an incident stroke (incidence rate, 0.37 per 1000 person-years). After multivariable adjustment, subjects with alcohol burden scores of 2, 3, and 4, who consumed more than 105 g/week of alcohol for 2, 3, and 4 years, demonstrated significantly higher risks for stroke (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.19, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.34 for 2; HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09-1.38 for 3; HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10-1.38 for 4) compared to those with a burden score of 0. This positive dose-response relationship was primarily driven by hemorrhagic rather than ischemic stroke. High alcohol burden scores (i.e., 2, 3, and 4) were significantly associated with higher risks for hemorrhagic stroke (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.10-1.54 for 2; HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.21-1.67 for 3; HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.16-1.59 for 4) compared to a burden score of 0.
Conclusions: Young adults who engaged in moderate to heavy drinking demonstrated a higher risk for incident stroke, especially hemorrhagic stroke. Reducing alcohol consumption should be emphasized in young adults with heavy drinking habits as part of any stroke prevention strategy.
- Received February 1, 2022.
- Accepted in final form September 12, 2022.
- © 2022 American Academy of Neurology
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Hemiplegic Migraine Associated With PRRT2 Variations A Clinical and Genetic Study
Dr. Robert Shapiro and Dr. Amynah Pradhan