The association between alcohol use and health behaviors related to the risk of cardiovascular disease: the South Carolina Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Project.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the relationship between alcohol use and health behaviors related to the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In particular, we examined the relationship between alcohol use and leisure time physical activity, participation in community physical activity programs and behaviors used for weight loss. Numerous studies have found a "protective" effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of CVD. However, most of these studies have not adequately controlled for potential confounding by health behaviors associated with alcohol use.

METHOD

We used descriptive and logistic regression analyses to examine cross-sectional survey data from 2,072 participants in the South Carolina Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Project.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, race, education and preexisting CVD, moderate and heavy drinkers who do not smoke were more likely than nondrinkers to report engaging in regular leisure time physical activity. The relationship between other health behaviors and alcohol consumption was less clear. Among men, moderate and heavy drinkers were no more likely than nondrinkers to participate in community physical activity programs; among women, moderate and heavy drinkers were more likely than nondrinkers to report this activity. Moderate drinkers were more likely than nondrinkers to report that they were attempting to lose weight, however this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that at least some of the apparent protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption found in other studies may be due to differences between nondrinkers and drinkers with respect to physical activity and other health practices.