Abstract

Objective: To disclose possible influences of alcoholic beverages on restenosis rate in men with coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and stent implantation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Patients: 225 consecutive male patients underwent PTCA and stent implantation. All patients had a control angiography and were contacted for a questionnaire regarding their drinking habits.

Main outcome measures: Mean late loss of luminal diameter, rate of coronary restenosis of 50% or more within the stented segment, and rate of repeat angioplasty.

Results: 53 patients (with 80 stents) consumed < 50 g of alcohol a week and 172 (with 266 stents) consumed more (50–700 g a week). Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups except for a higher prevalence of reduced cardiac function and multivessel disease and a lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration among patients who consumed little or no alcohol. Patients who consumed ⩾ 50 g alcohol a week had a lower mean late loss of the luminal diameter (1.1 (0.79) mm v 1.45 (0.82) mm, p  =  0.002), a lower rate of coronary restenosis within the stented segment (33.7% v 48.8%, p  =  0.001), and a lower rate of repeat angioplasty (23.3% v 42.5%, p  =  0.002). In multivariate analysis, only alcohol consumption and diabetes were independent and significant discriminators for late loss of luminal diameter (p  =  0.005 and p  =  0.01, respectively), restenosis (odds ratio 0.54 and 2.08, respectively), and repeat angioplasty (odds ratio 0.39 and 2.18, respectively).

Conclusion: Alcohol intake is associated with reduced restenosis after PTCA and stent implantation.