Effect of Alcohol Intake in Patients with Hypertension Currently on Medication Treatment

Regular alcohol use is a risk factor for hypertension and is associated with decreased rate of blood pressure control. The authors conducted a retrospective study of alcohol intake and number of hypertensive medications used in patients with hypertension visiting cardiology clinic from 2011 to 2012. The authors found that a history of alcohol consumption was not associated with number of antihypertensive medication or blood pressure control. However, diastolic blood pressure in normal-weighed drinker subgroup was higher than the nondrinker counterpart. Patients with higher body mass index and Black race tended to use more number of different classes of antihypertensive medication.