Association of Blood Pressure and Hypertension with Alcohol Consumption in HIV-Infected White and Nonwhite Patients

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Although alcohol abuse is associated with hypertension in whites and nonwhites, it has been scarcely investigated in HIV-infected patients.

Objective.

To investigate whether the association of alcohol abuse with hypertension is influenced by skin color in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods.

Cross-sectional study in HIV-infected individuals aged 18 years or older.

Demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and HIV infection were investigated.

Alcohol abuse was defined as ≥15 (women) and ≥30 g/alcohol/day (men), and binge drinking by the intake of ≥5 drinks on a single occasion.

Hypertension was defined by blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or use of blood pressure-lowering agents.

Results.

We studied 1,240 individuals, with 39.1±10 years, 51% males and 57% whites.

Age and body mass index were associated with blood pressure, and there was an independent association of alcohol abuse with hypertension in whites (RR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.3) and nonwhites (RR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.0).

Among nonwhite individuals who were alcohol abusers, systolic (9.3±3.2; P=0.001) and diastolic blood pressures (6.4±2.1; P=0.008) were higher than in nonabusers.

Conclusion.

Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for hypertension in white and nonwhite HIV-infected individuals.

The association of ethanol consumption with blood pressure is not explained by AIDS-related conditions.