2010 Hong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for ...

Chapter 8.Component 3: Clinical Care Of Adults With Hypertension8.2.1.5 Alcohol consumptionRecommendationsReduce alcohol intake in hypertensive patients to no more thantwo standard drinks per day b for men and one standard drinkper day for women.ASupporting evidence●●●●Alcohol reduction was associated with a significant reductionin mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure. A dose-responserelationship was found between the mean percentage of alcoholconsumption and mean blood pressure reduction 14 .In large population-based studies, the incidence of hypertensionis increased among those who drink more than 3 drinks per day,either in a linear dose-response relationship or with a thresholdwherein smaller quantities are associated with a modest decrease.Chronically, the incidence of hypertension is increased amongwomen who drink more than two drinks per day and amongmen who drink more than three per day 15,16 . The cessation ofheavy drinking is usually followed by significant fall in bloodpressure 17 .1++1++b Each standard drink contains 10 grams of pure alcohol. Defining one standard drink as10 grams of pure alcohol, it equates to about 250 ml of regular beer at 5% of alcohol content,one small glass (100 ml) of wine at 12% alcohol content, or one pub measure (30ml) of hardliquor at 40% of alcohol content.HK Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings12