Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction

OBJECTIVES The study evaluated the relationship between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and prognosis in patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. BACKGROUND Although chronic consumption of large amounts of alcohol can lead to cardiomyopathy, the effects of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption in patients with LV dysfunction are unknown. METHODS The relationship between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and prognosis was assessed in participants in the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD), all of whom had ejection fraction values ≤0.35. Baseline characteristics and event rates of patients who consumed 1 to 14 drinks per week (light-to-moderate drinkers, n = 2,594) were compared with those of patients who reported no alcohol consumption (nondrinkers, n = 3,719). The association between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and prognosis was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards analysis, controlling for baseline differences and important covariates. RESULTS Mortality rates were lower among light-to-moderate drinkers than among nondrinkers (7.2 vs. 9.4 deaths/100 person-years, p < 0.001). Among patients with ischemic LV dysfunction, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was independently associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality (RR [relative risk] 0.85, p = 0.01), particularly for death from myocardial infarction (RR 0.55, p < 0.001). The risks of cardiovascular death, death from progressive heart failure, arrhythmic death, and hospitalization for heart failure were similar for light-to-moderate drinkers and nondrinkers in this group. Among patients with nonischemic LV dysfunction, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption had no significant effect on mortality (RR 0.93, p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is not associated with an adverse prognosis in patients with LV systolic dysfunction, and it may reduce the risk of fatal myocardial infarction in patients with ischemic LV dysfunction.