Alcohol and atrial fibrillation: to or not to drink?

EBM Verdict EBM Verdict on: Voskoboinik A, Kalman MJ, Silva DA, et al. Alcohol Abstinence in Drinkers with Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:20–28. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1817591 In patients with (AF who are regular drinkers of 10 or more standard rinks a week) an alcohol abstinence programme leads to 20% (95% CI 4.3% to 36%) less exacerbations of AF: number needed to treat 5 (95% CI 3 to 28). Alcohol has long been considered a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it has been uncertain whether reducing alcohol consumption reduces the risk of AF exacerbations as there has been no evidence from randomised controlled trials until now. In 1978, the term ‘Holiday heart’ was coined—referring to exacerbations of atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with excessive drinking (typically around the holiday season).1 Since then, many observational studies have shown the seemingly dose-dependent relationship...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: General Medicine, EBM Verdict Source Type: research