A 32-year longitudinal study of alcohol consumption in Swedish women: Reduced risk of myocardial infarction but increased risk of cancer

Objective. To assess associations between the intake of different types of alcoholic beverages and the 32-year incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, as well as mortality, in a middle-aged female population. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Gothenburg, Sweden, population about 430 000. Subjects. Representative sample of a general population of women (1462 in total) aged 38 to 60 years in 1968–1969, followed up to the ages of 70 to 92 years in 2000–2001. Main outcome measures. Associations between alcohol intake and later risk of mortality and morbidity from myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, studied longitudinally. Results. During the follow-up period, 185 women developed myocardial infarction, 162 developed stroke, 160 women became diabetic, and 345 developed cancer. Women who drank beer had a 30% lower risk (hazards ratio (HR) 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.95) of developing myocardial infarcion and almost half the risk (HR 0.51 CI 0.33–0.80). A significant association between increased risk of death from cancer and high spirits consumption was also shown (hazards ratio [HR] 1.47, CI 1.06–2.05). Conclusions. Women with moderate consumption of beer had a reduced risk of developing myocardial infarction. High spirits consumption was associated with increased risk of cancer mortality.