Alcohol consumption is not protective for systemic lupus erythematosus. Issue 3 (13th April 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, J; Kay, A B; Fletcher, J; Formica, M K; McAlindon, T E
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 68:Issue 3(2009)
• Page Start: 345
• Page End: 348
• Publication Date: 2008-04-13
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2007.084582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Several studies have suggested that alcohol drinking is protective for the development and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a protopathic bias might also explain this apparent association. Our objective was to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and incidence of SLE in a data set that has information on both current and pre-diagnostic alcohol consumption. Methods: We performed an Internet-based case–control study of SLE. Cases were diagnosed within 5 years of the study and met ⩾4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE. The control participants were tightly matched to cases on demographic and socio-economic characteristics using a propensity score. Participants completed an online exposure assessment. We used conditional logistic regression analyses to test the association of current and pre-diagnostic alcohol consumption with SLE. Results: The sample comprised 114 cases with SLE and 228 matched controls. Current drinking (>2 days per week) was inversely associated with SLE (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.98). Having more than two drinks per day was also inversely associated with SLE (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.93). However, alcohol consumption before SLE diagnosis was not associated with the risk of SLE (p⩾0.4). Analysis of the change in drinking habits showed that people with lupus were more likely to quit drinking before (OR 2.25, 95% CI 0.96 to 5.28) or after (OR 2.38, 95% CI 0.88 to 6.49) being given the SLE diagnosis. Conclusions: Our results show that alcohol consumption before SLE diagnosis is not associated with the risk for SLE, and that individuals who develop SLE are more likely to quit.