Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Svanemøllevej 25, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
OBJECTIVE: To address the role of alcohol intake and tobacco smoking and the combination of the two on subsequent risk of Dupuytren's disease. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Cohort study of 7,254 subjects enrolled in the Copenhagen City Heart Study (1981-1983). Both self-reported information on lifestyle and objective measures at the baseline examination were linked to presence of Dupuytren's disease at a subsequent examination (1991-1994) using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 772 subjects had signs of Dupuytren's disease at follow-up. After adjustment for age, sex, educational level, diabetes, and either alcohol or tobacco consumption, respectively, odds ratios for having the disease increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing levels of alcohol or tobacco intake; however, there was no statistical interaction between heavy smoking and heavy drinking. CONCLUSION: Alcohol intake and tobacco smoking are independently associated with increased risk of Dupuytren's disease, and the combination of the two conveys a very large risk.