# Alcohol consumption and high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin levels are interactively associated with all‐cause mortality among community‐dwelling persons

## TL;DR

Alcohol consumption and high HMW adiponectin levels together increase mortality risk in community-dwelling individuals.

## Contribution

The study identifies an interactive effect between alcohol consumption and HMW adiponectin levels on all-cause mortality.

## Key findings

- Abstainers and heavy drinkers had higher mortality risk compared to occasional drinkers.
- High HMW adiponectin levels were linked to increased mortality, especially in nondrinkers and heavy drinkers.
- The interaction between alcohol and HMW adiponectin levels was significant after adjusting for confounders.

## Abstract

Decreased levels of high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) adiponectin are associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. This relationship may be further confounded by alcohol consumption, which plays a role in the development of liver dysfunction. In Japan, few studies have investigated the relationship between HMW adiponectin levels and alcohol consumption with mortality.

The study included 845 male participants (mean age, 61 ± 13 years; range, 20–89 years) and 1065 female participants (mean age, 63 ± 11 years; range, 22–88 years). Of the participants, 809 (42.4%) were classified as nondrinkers, 561 (29.4%) as occasional drinkers, 346 (18.1%) as daily light drinkers, and 194 (10.2%) as daily heavy drinkers. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for all‐cause mortality, adjusting for various confounders, including HMW adiponectin levels.

Individuals who abstained from alcohol consumption (hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.52) or engaged in daily heavy drinking (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04–1.86) exhibited significantly higher overall mortality than occasional drinkers. Additionally, those with the 3rd standard deviation (SD) level of HMW adiponectin (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07–1.80) and 4th SD level (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.23–2.23) had a similarly increased risk of all‐cause mortality compared to those with the lowest levels. After adjusting for confounders, the HR for individuals with the 3rd + 4th SD levels of HMW adiponectin was significantly elevated in nondrinkers (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.09–3.29), occasional drinkers (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.05–3.21), and daily heavy drinkers (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.05–3.44), but not in daily light drinkers. The interaction between alcohol consumption and HMW adiponectin levels was significantly associated with all‐cause mortality.

These findings suggest that alcohol consumption and elevated HMW adiponectin levels are interactively associated with all‐cause mortality in community‐dwelling individuals.

Alcohol consumption showed a U‐shaped relationship with all‐cause mortality, while adiponectin levels were dose‐dependently linked to mortality. Furthermore, an interaction between alcohol intake and adiponectin levels was noted, regardless of conventional cardiovascular risk factors. For a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving this connection in healthy individuals in the community, prospective population‐based studies are necessary. These studies could also shed light on whether interventions, such as lifestyle changes that impact HMW adiponectin levels in adults, could lower mortality risk.