Relationship of alcohol use and facial flushing to blood pressure and HbA1c among Cambodian populations with dysglycemia in the U.S. and in Cambodia

Abstract

Background and aims: Facial flushing after drinking alcohol, common among Asians, is a phenotype for genes involved in alcohol metabolism.

Methods: We investigated cross-sectional associations between flushing, alcohol use, blood pressure (BP) and HbA1c among (n = 287) Cambodians with dysglycemia in Cambodia and in the U.S. Participants were categorized as Abstainers, Flushers who drink, or Non-flushers who drink.

Results: Flushers and Non-flushers had similar alcohol use. Flushers had higher BP than Non-flushers and Abstainers, even after controlling for confounders. Findings were similar across countries. Drinkers had higher HbA1c than Abstainers.

Conclusions: Future research should examine whether reducing alcohol improves cardiometabolic outcomes.

Keywords: Alcohol; Blood pressure; Cambodia; Facial flushing; HbA1c; Type 2 diabetes.