Association between excessive alcohol consumption and incident diabetes mellitus among Japanese based on propensity score matching

Abstract The available evidence on the connection between excessive alcohol consumption and diabetes is controversial. Therefore, the primary objective of this investigation was to examine the connection between excessive alcohol consumption and incident diabetes in a Japanese population through the utilization of propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Our retrospective cohort study encompassed a sample of 15,464 Japanese individuals who were initially free of diabetes between the years 2004 and 2015. The study utilized comprehensive medical records of individuals who underwent a physical examination. Employing a one:one PSM analysis, the current research included 2298 individuals with and without excessive alcohol consumption. Furthermore, a doubly robust estimation method was employed to ascertain the connection between excessive alcohol consumption and diabetes. The findings revealed that individuals with excessive alcohol consumption exhibited a 73% higher likelihood of developing diabetes (HR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.08–2.77). Furthermore, upon adjusting for variables, the PSM cohort demonstrated that individuals with excessive alcohol consumption had a 78% increased risk of developing diabetes in comparison to those with non-excessive alcohol consumption (HR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.08–2.93). Individuals with excessive alcohol consumption were found to have a 73% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with non-excessive alcohol consumption, even after controlling for propensity score (HR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.08–2.78). Participants in the PSM cohort with excessive alcohol consumption had a 73% higher risk of developing diabetes than those with non-excessive alcohol consumption after controlling for confounding factors. These findings underscore the importance of alcohol consumption guidelines aimed at reducing excessive drinking. Clinicians should be vigilant in screening for alcohol use in patients, particularly those at risk for diabetes, and provide appropriate counseling and resources to support alcohol reduction.