Type of Alcohol Consumed and Mortality from All Causes, Coronary Heart Disease, and Cancer

  1. Morten Grønbæk, MD, DrMedSci;
  2. Ulrik Becker, MD, DrMedSci;
  3. Ditte Johansen, MSc;
  4. Adam Gottschau, MSc, PhD;
  5. Peter Schnohr, MD;
  6. Hans Ole Hein, MD;
  7. Gorm Jensen, MD, DrMedSci; and
  8. Thorkild I.A. Sørensen, MD, DrMedSci
  1. From the Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies,* Danish Epidemiology Science Centre at the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Abstract

    Background: Although the J-shaped relation between alcohol intake and mortality has been reproduced in many large cohort studies, the question of whether the effects of beer, wine, and spirits differ remains controversial.

    Objective: To examine the relation between intake of different types of alcohol and death from all causes, coronary heart disease, and cancer.

    Design: Pooled cohort studies in which intake of beer, wine, and spirits; smoking status; educational level; physical activity; and body mass index were assessed at baseline.

    Setting: Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Participants: 13 064 men and 11 459 women 20 to 98 years of age.

    Measurements: Number of deaths and time to death from all causes, coronary heart disease, and cancer during follow-up.

    Results: During 257 859 person-years of follow-up, 4833 participants died. J-shaped relations were found between total alcohol intake and mortality at various levels of wine intake. Compared with nondrinkers, light drinkers who avoided wine had a relative risk for death from all causes of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82 to 0.99) and those who drank wine had a relative risk of 0.66 (CI, 0.55 to 0.77). Heavy drinkers who avoided wine were at higher risk for death from all causes than were heavy drinkers who included wine in their alcohol intake. Wine drinkers had significantly lower mortality from both coronary heart disease and cancer than did non–wine drinkers (P = 0.007 and P = 0.004, respectively).

    Conclusion: Wine intake may have a beneficial effect on all-cause mortality that is additive to that of alcohol. This effect may be attributable to a reduction in death from both coronary heart disease and cancer.

    Article and Author Information

    • The Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies consists of the Copenhagen County Centre of Preventive Medicine, The Copenhagen Male Study (Dr. Hein), and the Copenhagen City Heart Study (Drs. Schnohr and Jensen).

    • Acknowledgments: The authors thank Susanne Dahl for secretarial assistance and Birgitte Bredesen and the staff of the Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies for assistance.

    • Grant Support: By the Danish National Board of Health and the Danish Research Agency. The activities of the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre are supported by a grant from the Danish National Research Foundation.

    • Requests for Single Reprints: Morten Grønbæk, MD, DrMedSci, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, DK-1399 Copenhagen, Denmark.

    • Current Author Addresses: Drs. Grønbæk and Sørensen and Mr. Johansen: Institute of Preventive Medicine, Kommunehospitalet, DK-1399 Copenhagen, Denmark.

    • Dr. Becker: Alcohol Unit and Division of Medical Gastroenterology, DK-2650 Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

    • Dr. Gottschau: Dommervænget 20D, 2.th., DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.

    • Dr. Schnohr: The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.

    • Dr. Hein: The Copenhagen Male Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.

    • Dr. Jensen: The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Epidemiological Research Unit, Bispebjerg Hospital, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.

    • Author Contributions: Conception and design: M. Grønbæk, U. Becker, P. Schnohr, H.O. Hein, G. Jensen, T.I.A. Sørensen.

    • Analysis and interpretation of the data: M. Grønbæk, D. Johansen, A. Gottschau, T.I.A. Sørensen.

    • Drafting of the article: M. Grønbæk.

    • Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: M. Grønbæk, U. Becker, T.I.A. Sørensen.

    • Final approval of the article: M. Grønbæk, U. Becker, D. Johansen, A. Gottschau, P. Schnohr, H.O. Hein, G. Jensen, T.I.A. Sørensen.

    • Statistical expertise: D. Johansen, A. Gottschau.

    • Obtaining of funding: M. Grønbæk, P. Schnohr, G. Jensen, H.O. Hein, T.I.A. Sørensen.

    • Collection and assembly of data: P. Schnohr, H.O. Hein, G. Jensen.

    Summary for Patients

    • Summaries for Patients:The Relationship between Type of Alcoholic Drinks Consumed and Death from Various Causes Ann Intern Med September 19, 2000 133:I-22
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    1. Ann Intern Med September 19, 2000 vol. 133 no. 6 411-419
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