![]() regular versus binge drinking) has been shown to affect health differently, but the effect of drinking frequency on pneumonia risk remains unknown. Moreover, frequency of alcohol consumption ( i.e. Inadequate adjustment for smoking and other potential confounders may have affected these findings, and the studies also did not address whether the relationship resulted from alcohol consumption per se or from acquired chronic diseases. A recent meta-analysis based on only three studies found that individuals who consumed alcohol in amounts corresponding to 14, 35 and 70 drinks per week had relative risks for pneumonia of 1.1 (95% CI 1.0–1.2), 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.7) and 1.8 (95% CI 1.1–2.8), respectively, compared with nondrinkers. However, data are sparse on how the amount and frequency of alcohol intake are associated with increased pneumonia risk in apparently healthy individuals. Finally, chronic alcohol intake is closely associated with malnutrition and other chronic diseases that may affect pneumonia risk. Alcohol overuse also can increase the risk of aspiration and suppress the normal cough reflex. For example, alcohol intake may cause alterations in neutrophil and macrophage function and abnormalities in ciliary and surfactant functioning in the lung. Abuse of alcohol may increase susceptibility to pneumonia for several reasons. ![]() Īlcohol abuse has been associated with a two- to nine-fold higher risk of pneumonia, and alcohol consumption is high in Western populations. Over the past two decades, hospitalisations with pneumonia have increased by 20–50% in ageing European and US populations. Pneumonia is a major clinical and public health problem and a leading cause of death worldwide. High weekly alcohol consumption in males and infrequent heavy drinking in both sexes may increase pneumonia risk. Regular moderate alcohol intake is not associated with increased risk of hospitalisation for pneumonia. For the same moderate to high weekly alcohol amount, infrequent intake yielded higher pneumonia HRs than more regular intake in both sexes. Among females, HRs for 0, 7–20, 21–35 and >35 drinks The association between high alcohol intake and pneumonia persisted after controlling for subsequent chronic diseases. Among males, the risk of pneumonia was increased for alcohol abstainers and those who drank large weekly amounts. Subjects were without major chronic diseases at baseline and had a median follow-up of 12 yrs for first-time hospitalisation with pneumonia.ġ,091 (males) and 944 (females) had pneumonia-related hospitalisation. We examined 22,485 males and 24,682 females from Denmark who were aged 50–64 yrs. The dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and pneumonia risk in healthy individuals is poorly understood.
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