Increase risk of stroke in hour after alcohol consumption

January 01, 0001

Increase risk of stroke in hour after alcohol consumption

Heavy alcohol use has been identified as a risk for ischemic stroke, whereas moderate to light use may be protective. These US researchers examined the transient changes to stroke risk using a case-crossover design in a multicenter study (n=390). They examined the time between alcohol intake and the onset of stroke symptoms via interview to determine alcohol consumption in the hour before stroke symptoms as compared the patients’ usual frequency.

The researchers found: "Of the 390 patients, 248 (64%) reported alcohol consumption in the prior year, 104 within 24 hours and 14 within 1 hour of stroke onset. The relative risk of stroke in the hour after consuming alcohol was 2.3. The relative risks were similar for different types of alcoholic beverages and when the sample was restricted to those who were not simultaneously exposed to other potential triggers."

The researchers concluded: "The risk of stroke onset is transiently elevated in the hour after alcohol ingestion."

This study suggests interesting transient increases in stroke risk immediately following alcohol consumption, although more definitive study is warranted.

For the full abstract, click here.

Stroke 41(9): 1845-1849, September 2010 © 2010 American Heart Association, Inc.
Alcohol and Acute Ischemic Stroke Onset: The Stroke Onset Study. Elizabeth Mostofsky, Mary R. Burger, Gottfried Schlaug, Kenneth J. Mukamal, Wayne D. Rosamond, Murray A. Mittleman. Correspondence to Murray A. Mittleman: [email protected]

Category: N. Neurological. Keywords: stroke, alcohol, consumption, risk, timeframe, case-crossover design, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 15 October 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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