Drinking habits and other characteristics: the Yugoslavia Cardiovascular Disease Study

In two large general populations of Yugoslav men from Tuzia, Bosnia, and Remetinec, Croatia, examined in 1964-1965, it was found that a greater alcohol consumption was accompanied by higher blood pressures, higher pulse rates, and higher concentrations of serum cholesterol and hematocrit. A greater consumption was also associated with an enlarged liver, as well as a higher prevalence rate of chronic bronchitis and thrombophlebitis. All these were statistically significant even after allowing for differences in cigarette smoking and demographic characteristics. Pulse rate, liver size, and varices appear to be specifically associated with a history of episodes of drunkenness. There were significant differences in drinking habits by place of residence, religious background, years of schooling, and kind of work. These were allowed for in evaluating the relationship of drinking to other characteristics. Two anomalous findings were low prevalence rates for diabetes and gastritis among those drinking most frequently.