#271 Be still my quivering heart: alcohol and atrial fibrillation
CLINICAL QUESTION
Does advising patients to abstain from alcohol prevent atrial fibrillation recurrence?
BOTTOM LINE
Observational studies consistently report a dose-response association between alcohol and new onset atrial fibrillation. Based on 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) of “regular drinkers” with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, recurrence of atrial fibrillation happened in ~50% who abstain compared to ~70% who continue drinking. Abstaining can prevent 1 atrial fibrillation-related hospital visit for every 9 people compared to those who continue to drink at 6 months.
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EVIDENCE
Open-label RCT in Australia, 140 patients with atrial fibrillation for ~6 years (mainly paroxysmal) and “regular” alcohol use (mean 16 per week). Mean age 62, 85% male, randomized to oral and written advice to abstain from alcohol with monthly follow-up and positive reinforcement or control (no advice on drinking). At 6 months:1
- Mean alcohol intake per week: 2 (intervention) versus 13 (control).
- Complete abstinence: 61% (intervention).
- Atrial fibrillation recurrence: 53% versus 73% (control), number needed to treat (NNT)=5.
- Atrial fibrillation-related hospital admissions: 9% versus 20% (control), NNT=9.
- Other benefits: 3.7kg weight loss in intervention.
- Limitations: 70% of patients screened for study not interested in abstinence; participants had to be in normal sinus rhythm at randomization.
- Risk differs between studies due to different populations, definitions of alcohol use, adjustment for confounders and whether results separated by gender. Best estimates:
- Compared to non or infrequent users (<2 drinks per month), the relative risk of atrial fibrillation appears to increase ~10% per drink per day.2
- Absolute risk (per 1000 patient years) over ~4.5 years:
- 15 for low (<1 drink/week), 17 for moderate (≤2 drinks/day for women and 3 for men) and 21 for high [>2 per day (women) or 3/day (men)].4
- Older data suggests up to 35% of new cases of atrial fibrillation are related to acute alcohol intoxication,5 and may recur with subsequent binge drinking.6
- Guidelines recommend lifestyle interventions for atrial fibrillation, including weight loss, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake.7
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