RELATION OF ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION TO BLOOD-PRESSURE AND SERUM CREATININE LEVELS

From the records of an automated multi-phasic health testing center daily drinkers in 4 alcohol consumption groups were each separately matched for sex, age and obesity to a single nondrinker control. All subjects satisfied strict eligibility criteria selected to exclude the effects of other factors known to influence blood pressure or renal function or both. The 5500 pairs of subjects were compared for systolic and diastolic blood pressure and serum creatinine. After allowing for smoking, drinkers had significantly elevated blood pressure compared with their controls, and the elevation was greater the heavier the alcohol intake, except for the heaviest drinking females. This result was more pronounced in males than females, and for systolic than diastolic blood pressure. By contrast, smoking cigarettes was associated with lower blood pressure, independent of sex and drinking history. Smoking was also associated with a decreased serum creatinine concentration, as was drinking .gtoreq. 3 drinks per day. Drinkers of .ltoreq. 2 drinks daily had higher serum creatinine concentrations than their nondrinker controls.