ABSTRACT
In order to explain the different findings in the many studies, the different characteristics of the study populations must be considered. Some studies looked only at hypertensive subjects, whilst others looked at only alcoholics or problem drinkers. There were also differences in the methods of collecting data on alcohol consumption, such as self-reporting in questionnaires, or direct questioning by investigators. Differences in how the quantity of alcohol consumed was described (such as the number of drinks per day, number of ounces or grams per week, etc) and differences in categorizing patients (as non-drinkers, exdrinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers) are also apparent when the different studies are carefully reviewed.
