Background: To explore indicators and levels of alcohol consumption in a Russian population, and to elaborate these in relation to risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Methods: A total of 1963 men and 1734 women, aged 18-75 years, consecutively recruited at their compulsory annual medical check-up at the Semashko outpatient clinic, Arkhangelsk, participated in a cross-sectional health survey. The survey comprised a physical examination, a six-page questionnaire on health and lifestyle, and blood tests.
Results: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels in both sexes were more than twice as high as found in comparable studies. Elevated GGT-levels were 4-5 times more frequent than found in Norwegian studies. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) identified up to 75% of male workers and 47% of female workers as hazardous or harmful alcohol drinkers. The traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease were significantly higher in subjects with a high level of GGT.
Conclusion: The findings indicate an extremely high level of alcohol consumption in this population. Elevation in GGT was significantly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.