Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Arterial Stiffness in Young Adults: EVA-Adic Study

Background: The relationship between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness parameters remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the association between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness in young Spanish adults. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted, involving 501 participants (222 men and 279 women), aged 18–34 years, who were free from cardiovascular disease and recruited from the urban population of Salamanca. Arterial stiffness was assessed using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) with the Vasera VS-2000® device, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) with the Sphygmocor System®. Alcohol consumption was assessed using a standardized questionnaire and quantified in grams per week, then categorized into sex-specific tertiles. Results: The mean age was 26.5 years, higher in men. Mean values of vascular function parameters were: CAVI 6.13±0.75 (no sex differences), cf-PWV 5.60±1.29 m/s, and ba-PWV 10.80±1.01 m/s (both higher in men). Overall, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and waist circumference were higher among individuals with greater alcohol consumption. Men in tertile 2 and women in tertile 3 reported less physical activity. In multinomial regression analysis, using tertile 1 as reference, a positive association was observed for ba-PWV with moderate alcohol consumption (β = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63–0.98). Conclusions: Alcohol consumption was positively associated with ba-PWV, but not with cf-PWV or CAVI.