Objective: To determine if alcohol consumption is associated with incident overweight or obesity in normal-weight, postmenopausal women. Design: Prospective cohort study considering baseline alcohol consumption and subsequent weight change over 7 years. Subjects: 15 920 normal-weight (BMI: 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial (WHI CT). Measurements: Body weight change and incident overweight and obesity (BMI, 25.0–29.9 and ≥ 30 kg/m2) over 7 years. Results: A third of the 13 822 women included in the analytical cohort reported no alcohol consumption. BMI differed little between abstainers (22.8 ± 1.58 kg/m2) and alcohol consumers in the upper quintile (22.7 ± 1.53 kg/m2). Among normal-weight women the risk of becoming overweight or obese over a 7-year follow-up period was 35 or 88% lower, respectively, for women in the upper quintile of alcohol intake relative to abstainers (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.58–0.73 or HR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.05–0.25, respectively). Risk for overweight and obesity was not significantly modified by age. Wine consumption showed the greatest protective association for risk of overweight (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.68–0.84), followed by liquor (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78–0.93) and beer (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82–1.00). Conclusion: Postmenopausal women of normal-weight who report moderate alcohol intake have reduced risk of becoming overweight or obese over time. Perhaps weight control measures in this population should target behaviors other than reduction in alcohol for those consuming moderate amounts.

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BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) generally requires intensive medical intervention, which along with the progression of the disease itself, may lead to the occurrence of comorbidities and hospitalisation that can be prevented with a quality primary care. We assessed the risk of preventable hospitalizations in RA patients, for whom preventable hospitalizations have not been well studied. We compare the incidence rate of preventable hospitalizations in newly-diagnosed RA patients and non-RA patients using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Database.ObjectivesTo investigate the risk of preventable hospitalisation before and after diagnosis between RA and non RA patients.Methods11 852 incident RA patients and 59 260 age-, sex-, and index year-matched controls were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Index date was defined as the initial diagnosis date for RA patients and this date was assigned to their matched controls. The incidence and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of preventable hospitalisation between RA patients and controls were estimated using conditional Poisson regression adjusted for age, sex, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations 1 year prior to index date, residence urbanisation, income levels, occupation and the number of physicians practicing near the patients’ residence.ResultsThe overall incidence of preventable hospitalisation in RA patients and controls was 1.71 vs 0.95 events per 1000 person-months, corresponding to adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.43 (95% CI, 1.35–1.51). The crude IRR for preventable hospitalisation was 1.84 (1.61–2.11) one year prior to RA diagnosis. Adjusted IRRs (95% CI) for preventable hospitalisation categories were 1.43 (1.22–1.67) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1.28 (1.02–1.62) for asthma, 1.76 (1.62–1.91) for bacterial pneumonia, 1.47 (1.35–1.61) for urinary tract infection.ConclusionsThis population-based study indicates that RA is independently associated with a higher risk of preventable hospitalisation, and the risk was already greater prior to formal diagnosis of RA. These results signal gaps in the care and management of RA patients in this population.Reference[1] Billings J, Anderson GM, Newman LS. Recent findings on preventable hospitalizations. Health Aff (Millwood)1996;15(3):239–249.Disclosure of InterestNone declared