Action Points Note that this review of studies examining associations between alcohol use and atrial fibrillation suggests that moderate drinking is associated with Afib incidence. The association between heavy- and binge-drinking and afib is more well-established, however.
Just in time for the holidays: Even a small amount of alcohol intake was associated with atrial fibrillation (Afib), according to a systematic review.
And after a diagnosis of Afib, “those who continue to consume alcohol have higher rates of progression from paroxysmal to persistent Afib, more Afib recurrences following pulmonary vein isolation, and potentially higher rates of adverse outcomes, such as thromboembolism,” Peter M. Kistler, MBBS, PhD, of Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia, and colleagues wrote in the Dec. 13 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
“Habitual drinking at moderate levels, as well as binge drinking, predisposes to Afib, with an increase in Afib recurrence in those who continue to drink. Although a small amount of alcohol is considered cardioprotective, these benefits do not extend to Afib,” the authors wrote in what they dubbed a “sobering” review.
Patients commonly present to emergency departments nationwide with “holiday heart syndrome,” or Afib precipitated by alcohol, they noted. One study found that while “many patents develop Afib at the time of intoxication, others may present 12 to 36 hours later,” they added — with a quarter of patients showing recurrences at 1 year with subsequent binges.
Although heavy habitual alcohol consumption and binge drinking are closely associated with Afib, three large meta-analyses have also shown a link between light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and the condition, according to the authors.
Yet Kenneth J. Mukamal, MD, MPH, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, commented to MedPage Today that his group’s Copenhagen City Heart
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