Two or More Drinks a Day May Increase Afib Risk in Women

08 dec 2008--Women who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day may face increased risk for atrial fibrillation, according to a report from the Women's Health Study published in JAMA.

Nearly 35,000 healthy, middle-aged female health professionals completed questionnaires about alcohol consumption, among other things, and were followed for roughly 12 years. During that time, 2% developed afib.

In multivariable-adjusted analyses, women who consumed less than two drinks a day were not at increased risk for afib. Those who drank two or more a day, however, were significantly more likely to develop afib than those who consumed no alcohol (3% vs. 2%).

The authors note that their findings are consistent with those from previous studies in men.

LINK(S):

JAMA article (Free)