Estudios científicos

Red wine consumption, coronary calcification, and long-term clinical evolution

Abstract:

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with atherosclerotic complications. However, elevated CAC may not always imply a worse prognosis. Herein, we report the clinical evolution of long-term red wine (RW) drinkers in relation to CAC. We followed 200 healthy male habitual RW drinkers and compared them to 154 abstainers for a period of 5.5 years. The initial evaluation included coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), clinical, demographics, and laboratory data. CAC was quantified by the Agatston score. The follow-up process was conducted by telephone calls and/or hospital record review. The composite end-point of total death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or coronary revascularization (or major adverse cardiac event – MACE) was assessed. The RW drinkers ingested 28.9±15 g of alcohol/day for 23.4±12.3 years. They had higher high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, but lower C-reactive protein than abstainers. Age, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and liver enzymes were similar. History of diabetes was lower among drinkers, but other risk factors were similar. However, drinkers had higher CAC than abstainers; the mean value was 131.5±362 in drinkers vs 40.5±320 in abstainers (P<0.001). The median and interquartile range were 15 (0.0-131.5) in RW drinkers and 1 (0.0-40.5) in abstainers (P=0.003). During the follow-up, MACE was significantly lower in drinkers than in abstainers, despite their higher CAC. The difference was driven mainly by AMI (0 vs 6; P<0.03). Greater CAC values in this setting did not predict worse prognosis. A possible underlying mechanism is lesion calcification, which leads to plaque stabilization and less clinical events.

Comentarios divulgativos:

 En este estudio los autores analizaron cómo evolucionaba la salud cardiovascular de 200 hombres bebedores de vino durante 5 años y medio y los compararon con 154 hombres no bebedores, abstemios.
Al finalizar el estudio, se estimó que el consumo medio diario de alcohol de los bebedores había sido de 28,9 g (un valor muy próximo a al consumo moderado para los varones, que algunos organismos establecen en 28 g al día).
Cuándo se comparó la salud de los bebedores con la de los abstemios, se observó que los bebedores tenían niveles más altos tanto del denominado colesterol bueno, HDL, como del colesterol "malo" o LDL. También tenían menores niveles de proteína C-reactiva, una proteína relacionada con la inflamación. Había una mayor frecuencia de diabetes y se observó una mayor calcificación de los vasos sanguíneos del corazón, las arterias coronarias, lo que habitualmente se relaciona con un mayor riesgo de complicaciones cardiovasculares. Sin embargo, entre los bebedores hubo un menor número de muertes por infarto. Y esto hizo pensar a los autores que quizás una mayor calcificación de las arterias coronarias, podría no estar relacionado con un peor pronóstico, sino con un proceso de estabilización.