Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for pneumonia

a systematic review and meta-analysis

SAMOKHVALOV, A. V.
IRVING, H. M.
REHM, J.

¹ Public Health and Regulatory Policy, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
² Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada
³ Epidemiological Research Unit, Klinische Psychologie & Psychotherapie, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany

^* Author for correspondence: Dr A. V. Samokhvalov, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Public Health and Regulatory Policy, 33 Russell Street, Room 2035, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S2S1. (Email: [email protected])

(Accepted 16 March 2010; first published online 12 April 2010)

Epidemiology & Infection 138(12):p 1789-1795, December 2010.

SUMMARY

The aim of this study was to quantify the association between alcohol consumption and incidence of pneumonia and to examine possible pathways. This was done by a systematic review and meta-analyses on the dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption or alcohol-use disorders and the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The relative risk (RR) of CAP increased monotonically with increasing alcohol consumption. Individuals consuming 24, 60, and 120 g of pure alcohol daily demonstrated RRs for incident CAP of 1.12 (95% CI 1.02–1.23), 1.33 (95% CI 1.06–1.67) and 1.76 (95% CI 1.13–2.77), respectively, relative to non-drinkers. Clinically defined alcohol-use disorders were associated with an eightfold increased risk of CAP (RR 8.22, 95% CI 4.85–13.95). In conclusion, alcohol was found to be a risk factor for pneumonia with a clear statistical association, and a monotonic dose-response relationship.