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Cerebrovascular disorders and alcohol intake: preliminary results of a case-control study

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Abstract

The role of alcohol as a risk factor for cerebral infarction and hemorrhage has been assesed in 200 middle-aged and elderly stroke patients and 200 controls matched for age, sex and hospital admission date. Computed tomographic brain scans were done in all but 10 of the stroke patients. Alcohol intake was reckoned on the 12 months preceding hospitalization and expressed in grams daily according to a standard nomogram. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test was used for the diagnosis of alcoholism. Cerebral infarction was present in 59% of the stroke patients and cerebral hemorrhage in 9%. The role of alcohol as risk factor for stroke proved to be small (Odds Ratio 1.86) and was practically lost after adjustement for the most common risk factors for cerebrovascular disorders (previous strokes, arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity and hyperlipidemia). Our findings seem to suggest that alcohol is not an independent risk factor for stroke in the middle-aged and elderly. The data are, however, preliminary and are discussed in the light of methological problems.

Sommario

Il contributo dell'alcool come fattore di rischio per l'infarto e l'emorragia cerebrale è stato esaminato in 200 pazienti con stroke e 200 controlli in età medio-avanzata, appaiati per età, sesso e data di ricovero ospedaliero. Una tomografia assiale computerizzata dell'encefalo fu eseguita in tutti i casi di stroke tranne 10. L'entità della assunzione alcoolica fu calcolata con riferimento ai 12 mesi precedenti il ricovero e fu espressa in grammi al giorno in base ad un apposito monogramma. Per le diagnosi di alcoolismo fu usato un questionario ad-hoc, il Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Un infarto cerebrale fu documentato nel 59% dei casi ed una emorragia cerebrale nel 9%. Il ruolo dell'alcool come fattore di rischio per lo stroke risultò modesto (Odds Ratio 1.86) e venne praticamente annullato dopo aver aggiustato per i più comuni fattori di rischio per malattie cerebrovascolari (ictus precedenti, ipertensione arteriosa, diabete, obesità ed iperlipidemia). I nostri dati sembrano escludere un ruolo indipendente dell'alcool nella genesi dello stroke. Tuttavia, i risultati ottenuti (da intendere come preliminari) sono discussi alla luce di alcuni problemi metodologici.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Neurologica, Istituto di Scienze Biomediche, Ospedale “San Gerardo”, Monza

    Beghi E. & Boglium G.

  2. Clinica Medica, Istituto di Scienze Biomediche, Ospedale “San Gerardo”, Monza

    Beghi E., Cosso P., Fiorelli G., Lorini C., Mandelli M. & Romano R.

  3. Primario Emerito Divisione Neurologica, Ospedale “San Gerardo”, Monza

    Sanguineti I.

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  1. Beghi E.
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  2. Boglium G.
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  3. Cosso P.
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  4. Fiorelli G.
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  5. Lorini C.
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  6. Mandelli M.
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  7. Romano R.
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  8. Sanguineti I.
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Beghi, E., Boglium, G., Cosso, P. et al. Cerebrovascular disorders and alcohol intake: preliminary results of a case-control study. Ital J Neuro Sci 13, 209–214 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224391

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