The J-Curve in HIV: Low and Moderate Alcohol Intake Predicts Mortality but Not the Occurrence of Major Cardiovascular Events

Publication

The J-Curve in HIV: Low and Moderate Alcohol Intake Predicts Mortality but Not the Occurrence of Major Cardiovascular Events

Journal Paper/Review - Mar 1, 2016

Wandeler Gilles, Furrer Hansjakob, Bernasconi Enos, Schmid Patrick, Battegay Manuel, Orasch Christina, Calmy Alexandra, Conen Anna, Fehr Jan, Kraus David

Citation

Wandeler G, Furrer H, Bernasconi E, Schmid P, Battegay M, Orasch C, Calmy A, Conen A, Fehr J, Kraus D. The J-Curve in HIV: Low and Moderate Alcohol Intake Predicts Mortality but Not the Occurrence of Major Cardiovascular Events. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2016; 71:302-9.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2016; 71

Publication Date

Mar 1, 2016

Issn Electronic

1944-7884

Pages

302-9

Brief description/objective

OBJECTIVES
In HIV-negative populations, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than alcohol abstention. Whether the same holds true for HIV-infected individuals has not been evaluated in detail.

DESIGN
Cohort study.

METHODS
Adults on antiretroviral therapy in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study with follow-up after August 2005 were included. We categorized alcohol consumption into: abstention or very low (<1 g/d), low (1-9 g/d), moderate (10-29 g/d in women and 10-39 g/d in men), and high alcohol intake. Cox proportional hazards models were used to describe the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease-free survival (combined endpoint), cardiovascular disease events (CADE) and overall survival. Baseline and time-updated risk factors for CADE were included in the models.

RESULTS
Among 9741 individuals included, there were 788 events of major CADE or death during 46,719 patient-years of follow-up, corresponding to an incidence of 1.69 events/100 person-years. Follow-up according to alcohol consumption level was 51% no or very low, 20% low, 23% moderate, and 6% high intake. As compared with no or very low alcohol intake, low (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 0.98) and moderate alcohol intakes (0.78, 0.64 to 0.95) were associated with a lower incidence of the combined endpoint. There was no significant association between alcohol consumption and CADE.

CONCLUSIONS
Compared with no or very low alcohol consumption, low and moderate intake associated with a better CADE-free survival. However, this result was mainly driven by mortality and the specific impact of drinking patterns and type of alcoholic beverage on this outcome remains to be determined.