Moderate alcohol consumption fuels risk of atrial fibrillation

A new research has shown that the moderate consumption of wine and hard liquor alcohol might be associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation, an abnormally fast heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure and dementia.

The study found that an association between high alcohol consumption, defined as more than three drinks per day, and increased risk for atrial fibrillation and a strong association with binge drinking.

Susanna C. Larsson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Unit of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm said that while many studies had shown that light to moderate alcohol consumption could have positive outcomes on the heart, such as reducing ischemic heart disease and stroke, it was important to balance these benefits against the potential risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

Larsson added that they had no explanation for the lack of association with beer consumption and it was likely that beer was consumed more regularly during the week, whereas wine and liquor was more often consumed during weekends only. Adverse effects of alcohol on atrial fibrillation risk may be less pronounced if alcohol consumption was spread out over the week compared with consumption of larger amounts of alcohol during a few days per week.

The study is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.