Wine Information Council
7 august 2026
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Link between alcohol consumption and myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause mortality among Swedish male automotive workers over 30 years

Introduction

The relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and all-cause mortality exhibits significant regional variation.

Objective

This prospective study aimed to investigate this association analyzing data from a cohort of Swedish men aged 45–50 years at baseline, evaluating subgroups over various time intervals, and compiling data on cardiovascular endpoints.

Methods

The Coeur study, conducted between 1993 and 1995, included 973 middle-aged male employees out of a randomly selected sample of 1144 individuals from a Swedish automotive company. Participants were followed for 30 years using national health registers. The accumulated incidence of first-time stroke, first-time MI and all-cause mortality was calculated and adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. Data analysis employed time-to-event methods (Kaplan–Meier’s estimates and hazard ratios) and measures of association (odds ratios and correlation analysis).

Results

No statistically significant association was observed between alcohol consumption and stroke (p > 0.05). However, alcohol consumption was associated with lower odds of MI (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41–0.79) and a slight increase in survival time (HR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–1.000). Alcohol consumers had a median survival advantage of 1.3 years compared to non-consumers. All beverage types showed a negative association with all-cause mortality (total alcohol: OR = 0.57; beer: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50–0.92; wine: OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41–0.75). Conversely, beer consumption was linked to higher odds of MI (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.05–2.75).

Conclusions

While alcohol consumption in middle-aged men after 30 years follow-up is associated with increased survival time, beer correlates with a higher likelihood of MI.

Additional Info

  • Authors

    Asp Hanna; Dimberg Lennart

  • Issue

    Periodical: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care - Volume: 44 - Number: 1

  • Published Date

    7 august 2026

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