The Benefits of Moderate Alcohol Intake for Bypass Patients

Researchers from the University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy found that male heart bypass surgery patients who were moderate drinkers had a 25% lower risk of the need for further cardiac surgery as well as heart attacks, strokes and premature death compared to patients who never drink. However, they also found that patients who consumed at least six alcoholic drinks per day had double the risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who abstained. These findings were presented by Umberto Benedetto, M.D., Ph.D., at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010 in Chicago, Illinois.

Umberto Benedetto, M.D., Ph.D., said:

"The benefit of light amounts of alcohol consumption has been documented in healthy individuals, but our analysis showed a benefit from light alcohol intake in post-coronary bypass patients. However, our analysis indicated that alcohol consumption is not advisable in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. No adverse correlation was found between moderate alcohol consumption and any medication.

Dr. Benedetto and his team studied the outcomes of 1,021 men who had undergone heart bypass surgery. They used a questionnaire to gather data on the patients drinking habits, and observed over a three and a half year period how many patients had further bypass surgeries, heart attacks, strokes and cardiac death. Benedetto stressed that further study over a longer time period with a larger pool of bypass patients and controls would be needed.

For men, moderate drinking is defined as up to three alcoholic drinks per day (or 5 to 30 grams of alcohol per day). Moderate to heavy drinking means at least six drinks per day (over 60 grams of alcohol per day).

Source: American Heart's Association Scientific Sessions 2010