A glass of wine a day may protect the aging heart

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Data from the Cardiovascular Health Study show that moderate alcohol consumption may reduce risk of heart failure among older adults, researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The ongoing study was launched in 1989 to follow the health status of Medicare recipients living in communities across the country. Dr. Chris L. Bryson of the University of Washington, Seattle, and associates investigated whether there was an association between moderate alcohol consumption -- defined as one to six drinks a week -- and the risk of congestive heart failure in 5,888 subjects who were at least 65 years old. The subjects were followed for 7 to 10 years.

There were 5,595 subjects at risk for heart failure at baseline and 1056 events occurred during follow-up.

During follow up, moderate drinkers had about an 18 percent lower risk of developing heart failure than abstainers. Those consuming 7 to 10 drinks per week had a 34 percent lower risk of heart failure.

Alcohol "may exert a protective effect by favorably altering hemodynamics or influencing other factors that affect either the development or clinical presentation of congestive heart failure," Bryson suggests, although the exact mechanism requires further investigation.

SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 1, 2006.