Rahman, I; Wolk, A; Larsson, SC (2015) Heart. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2015-307542
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether sweetened beverage consumption is associated with heart failure (HF) risk in a large prospective population-based study of Swedish men.
DESIGN: Prospective population-based study based on data from the Cohort of Swedish Men (COSM) established 1997-1998 and followed until 2010. Baseline diet and beverage consumption was assessed in 1997 using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) to cover intake from the previous year. Covariates including education, smoking and alcohol status, physical activity, family history of myocardial infarction, history of stroke and angina, hypertension, diabetes, BMI, and dietary and total energy intake were collected at baseline. Sweetened beverage consumption was determined as a 200ml (one glass) serving. Mean follow-up time was 11.7 years, during which HF incidence was ascertained through records of the Swedish National Patient Register and Cause of Death Register.
SETTING: Sweden
PARTICIPANTS: 42,400 Swedish men, aged 45-79 years.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: incidence of heart failure.
RESULTS: 4113 incidents of heart failure were identified during the mean follow-up of 11.7 years. When compared with no consumption of sweetened beverages, daily consumption of ≥2 servings was significantly positively associated with higher risk of heart failure (23% higher risk of developing heart failure than non-consumers). Significant relationships were not observed at intakes of less than this. A strong negative trend was noted between sweetened beverage consumption and educational level (19% of non-consumers were university educated compared with 10% of participants within the highest intake group, of ≥2 servings/day). No statistically significant associations were noted between sweetened beverage consumption and overweight, smoking or age >65 years (P >0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: authors identified that sweetened beverage consumption is significantly positively associated with increased HF development. A number of covariates were considered, however the addition of biomarker measurements would be helpful to determine potential mediators.
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