Thromb Haemost 2011; 106(02): 272-278
DOI: 10.1160/TH11-01-0043
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Alcohol consumption, types of alcoholic beverages and risk of venous thromboembolism – The Tromsø Study

Ida J. Hansen-Krone
1   Hematological research group (HERG), Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
,
Sigrid K. Brækkan
1   Hematological research group (HERG), Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
,
Kristin F. Enga
1   Hematological research group (HERG), Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
,
Tom Wilsgaard
3   Department of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
,
John-Bjarne Hansen
1   Hematological research group (HERG), Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
2   Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 28 January 2011

Accepted after major revision: 03 May 2011

Publication Date:
25 November 2017 (online)

Summary

Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to protect against cardiovascular diseases. The association between alcohol consumption, especially types of alcoholic beverages, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is less well described. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of alcohol consumption and different alcoholic beverages on risk of VTE. Information on alcohol consumption was collected by a selfadministrated questionnaire in 26,662 subjects, aged 25–97 years, who participated in the Tromsø Study, in 1994–1995. Subjects were followed through September 1, 2007 with incident VTE as the primary outcome. There were 460 incident VTE-events during a median of 12.5 years of follow-up. Total alcohol consumption was not associated with risk of incident VTE. However, subjects consuming ≥3 units of liquor per week had 53% increased risk of VTE compared to teetotalers in analyses adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, cancer, previous cardiovascular disease, physical activity and higher education (HR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.00–2.33). Contrary, subjects with a wine intake of ≥3 units/week had 22% reduced risk of VTE (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.47–1.30), further adjustment for liquor and beer intake strengthened the protective effect of wine (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.30–1.00). Frequent binge drinkers (≥1/week) had a 17% increased risk of VTE compared to teetotallers (HR 1.17, 95% CI: 0.66–2.09), and a 47% increased risk compared to non-binge drinkers (HR 1.47, 95% CI: 0.85–2.54). In conclusion, liquor consumption and binge drinking was associated with increased risk of VTE, whereas wine consumption was possibly associated with reduced risk of VTE.