(Review, p. 56.) (NOTE: This study is the subject of a video news release; call 215-351-2514 for satellite coordinates.)

2. Heavy Drinking is Associated with Risk for Stroke

A new analysis of data from a study of the nutrition habits and illnesses of 38,156 men found that heavy alcohol drinking was associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke (Article, p. 11). Light and moderate average alcohol use was generally not associated with an increased risk for stroke.

Heavy drinking was defined as consuming more than two drinks daily; light or moderate drinking was defined as consuming two or less drinks a day.

Moderate drinking of red wine was associated with lower risk for stroke, unlike other forms of alcohol.

The study has limitations. Participants had relatively few strokes, strokes recorded were ischemic and not other forms of stroke; how alcohol affected the stroke rate was not studied; and the study could not clearly distinguish between different types of alcohol consumed by the participants.

3. Study: Patients Managed Their Own Blood Thinners and Had Few Complications

Many people take anticoagulants (blood thinners) and place themselves at risk for bleeding complications of treatment.

In a randomized, controlled trial of patient self-management vs. clinic management of oral anticoagulants, patients who monitored the effect of their anticoagulant drug dose achieved similar levels of control over blood clotting as compared to patients who went to a clinic to have blood levels checked (Article, p. 1). Self-management patients also had fewer major complications (including death) and minor hemorrhages.

The self-management patients measured the levels of anticoagulant medica
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Contact: Susan Anderson
sanderson@acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians
3-Jan-2005