Alcohol-consumption trajectories and associated characteristics among adults older than age 50

Associations between changes in deprivation and alcohol use disorder: a nationwide longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Despite conflicting findings on the association between socioeconomic status and drinking, little is known about the impact of deprivation as a measure of inequality on alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

METHODS

We used the Korea Welfare Panel Study, a longitudinal survey conducted from 2012 to 2022, and included 1569 Korean adult participants. Deprivation (at least one including food, housing, medical, educational, and credit deprivation) was measured by self-report and divided into four categories according to the change in deprivation experience from the previous year to the following year. AUD was measured using the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

Among 1569 participants, worsened deprivation and consistent deprivation were positively associated with AUD compared to non-deprivation. In particular, worsened deprivation was more likely to be associated with AUD in participants with low household income, high school education level, and economic activity.

CONCLUSION

We found that worsened deprivation and consistent deprivation were associated with AUD. Deprivation should be considered as a health policy intervention to improve drinking problems.

Explaining Substance Use among Puerto Rican Older Adults: Impact of Perceived Discrimination, Perceived Stress, and Social Activities

Background: Despite Puerto Ricans having one of the highest rates of substance use among Hispanic groups in the United States, limited research has focused on the impact of perceived discrimination and stress on substance use among older adults. Individuals who experience stressful events are inclined to engage in harmful behaviors as a coping mechanism. Objectives: Based on the propositions of the General Strain Theory, the current study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination, perceived stress, social activities, and the use of alcohol and cigarettes. Methods: Baseline data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study collected in 2014 was used to conduct a logistic regression analysis. Results: The findings reveal that while perceived discrimination is significantly linked to both types of substance use, social activities may serve as a protective factor for cigarette use. Conclusion/Importance: Our study findings emphasize the need to examine perceived discrimination as a stressor impacting the health and well-being of Puerto Ricans in later adulthood. Policy implications for reducing substance use and directions for future research are discussed.

Predicting moderate drinking behaviors in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants using biochemical and demographical factors with machine learning

Recent studies revealed that any amount of alcohol consumption is an overall health detriment to multiple populations, contrary to popular beliefs. In addition, very few alcohol use studies utilized machine learning methods to compare the biological health of moderate drinkers compared to those that abstain from alcohol consumption, opting instead to focus on binge drinking and heavy drinking. Using participant data of multiple factor types from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we created prediction models with stacked ensembles and gradient boosting models. Machine learning models were used to identify which factors most enabled the prediction of moderate drinking behaviors. Our combined factor runs produced a cross-validation area under the curve (AUC) of 0.929 and a validation area under the curve of 0.806. Runs that only included biochemical or demographical factors received cross-validation AUC values of 0.825 and 0.925, and validation AUC values of 0.757 and 0.783, respectively. The top predictive factors for our machine learning runs, including gamma glutamyl transferase, gender, iron levels, and cigarette and marijuana usage, corroborate past studies that link those factors to alcohol consumption. Our findings identified key differences in the biological health of moderate drinkers compared to those that abstain from drinking. These results reveal a need to further explore the health effects of moderate drinking, especially for vulnerable populations.

The social capital penalty paid by teetotallers

Social capital is important and helps protect health and reduce loneliness. Governments worldwide are pursuing policies to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed to protect public health but alcohol consumption remains a prevalent feature of social interaction in the UK. Previous studies have identified a strong relationship between alcohol and social capital which varies in direction depending on the dimension of social capital studied. Using a large nationally representative longitudinal dataset for the UK, we apply an outcome-wide longitudinal design for causal inference, adjusting for covariates, as well as lagged values of outcome and exposure, to investigate if drinking less alcohol or not drinking alcohol at all is related to five binary social capital outcomes: socialising, being active in an organization, feeling lonely, number of close friends, and a bridging social capital score. We use two drinking exposures, binary drinker status, and categorised drinking frequency. We find that not drinking alcohol is negatively associated with socialising. Analysis using the frequency of drinking alcohol exposure finds drinking alcohol monthly or less is negatively associated with being active in an organisation. We find little evidence of any relationship between drinking alcohol and feelings of loneliness, number of friends and bridging social capital. Our results suggest that non-drinkers face barriers to some forms of social capital including socialising, which could be due to alcohol being a social norm in the UK. However, our results also suggest that high-frequency drinkers can reduce their drinking with minimal impact on their social capital. Our findings suggest more needs to be done to make socialising easier for non-drinkers. Furthermore, our findings support the implementation of policies to reduce high-frequency drinking.

Predictors of beverage-specific, alcohol consumption trajectories: A Swedish population-based cohort study

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine whether changes in alcohol consumption over time differ according to beverage types, and to what extent socioeconomic, lifestyle and health-related factors predict beverage-specific trajectories in Sweden. Study design: We included participants from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort who were surveyed repeatedly in 2002, 2010 and 2014. Alcohol consumption trajectories were constructed for 13,152 individuals with valid information on amount and frequency of drinking. Preferred beverage types (i.e., beer, wine or spirits) were defined based on the most consumed beverages. Multinomial logistic regression was used to quantify individual predictors of different trajectories, overall and by beverage type. Results: Overall 56.9% of respondents were women, the mean age was 49.2 years, SD (13.1). Wine was cited as the preferred beverage for 72.4% of participants, and stable moderate drinking was the most common trajectory regardless of beverage type (68.2%, 54.9% and 54.2% in individuals with wine, beer and spirits as preferred beverages, respectively). Associations between drinking trajectories and baseline lifestyle factors did not differ by beverage type. Lower socioeconomic position (SEP) was associated with unstable moderate wine drinking (for unskilled manual SEP: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23, 1.93), unstable heavy beer drinking (for skilled manual SEP: aOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.14, 3.52; and unskilled manual SEP: aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.05, 2.82), and former beer drinking trajectory (for skilled manual SEP: aOR 1.81; 95% CI 1.21, 2.72; and unskilled manual SEP: aOR 1.66; 95% CI 1.17, 2.37). Conclusion: Lower SEP was associated with unstable heavy drinking of beer, former beer drinking, and unstable moderate wine drinking trajectories indicating that targeted alcohol prevention programmes need to focus on these groups.

Alcohol consumption from midlife and risk of disabling dementia in a large population-based cohort study in Japan

OBJECTIVES

The association between alcohol consumption and dementia in Japanese is poorly understood, and use of single-point alcohol assessment may cause measurement error. We explored this association in Japanese using repeated alcohol assessments.

METHODS

Participants in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study) since 1990 and who were alive in 2006 were followed from 2006 until 2016 for dementia ascertainment. Disabling dementia was identified through long-term care insurance records. Alcohol consumption was assessed at the 5-year questionnaire survey (1995-1999) and drinking patterns were assessed on repeated follow-up (2000-2003). We performed Cox proportional hazards models with age as the time-scale with adjustment for various lifestyle factors and medical history using light consumption (<75 g ethanol/week, hereinafter "g") as reference. Analysis considering death as a competing risk was also conducted.

RESULTS

Among 42,870 participants aged 54-84 years, 4802 cases of disabling dementia were newly diagnosed. Average years from alcohol assessment until dementia incidence was 14.9 years. Non-drinkers and regular drinkers with ≥450 g at 5 years had adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 1.29 (1.12-1.47) and 1.34 (1.12-1.60). Patterns of long-term abstinence, former drinking, and regular heavy weekly consumption of ≥450 g showed increased adjusted HRs of 1.61 (1.28-2.03), 2.54 (1.93-3.35), and 1.96 (1.49-2.59), respectively. Competing risk analysis yielded similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

In Japanese, non-drinking and regular weekly consumption of ≥450 g from midlife were associated with high risk of disabling dementia compared with light drinking.

Alcohol consumption and epigenetic age acceleration in young adults

Alcohol is a widely consumed substance in the United States, however its effect on aging remains understudied. In this study of young adults, we examined whether cumulative alcohol consumption, i.e., alcohol years of beer, liquor, wine, and total alcohol, and recent binge drinking, were associated with four measures of age-related epigenetic changes via blood DNA methylation. A random subset of study participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study underwent DNA methylation profiling using the Illumina MethylationEPIC Beadchip. Participants with alcohol consumption and methylation data at examination years 15 (n = 1,030) and 20 (n = 945) were included. Liquor and total alcohol consumption were associated with a 0.31-year (P = 0.002) and a 0.12-year (P = 0.013) greater GrimAge acceleration (GAA) per additional five alcohol years, while beer and wine consumption observed marginal (P = 0.075) and no associations (P = 0.359) with GAA, respectively. Any recent binge drinking and the number of days of binge drinking were associated with a 1.38-year (P < 0.001) and a 0.15-year (P < 0.001) higher GAA, respectively. We observed statistical interactions between cumulative beer (P < 0.001) and total alcohol (P = 0.004) consumption with chronological age, with younger participants exhibiting a higher average in GAA compared to older participants. No associations were observed with the other measures of epigenetic aging. These results suggest cumulative liquor and total alcohol consumption and recent binge drinking may alter age-related epigenetic changes as captured by GAA. With the increasing aging population and widespread consumption of alcohol, these findings may have potential implications for lifestyle modification to promote healthy aging.

Causal inference under over-simplified longitudinal causal models

Many causal models of interest in epidemiology involve longitudinal exposures, confounders and mediators. However, repeated measurements are not always available or used in practice, leading analysts to overlook the time-varying nature of exposures and work under over-simplified causal models. Our objective is to assess whether - and how - causal effects identified under such misspecified causal models relates to true causal effects of interest. We derive sufficient conditions ensuring that the quantities estimated in practice under over-simplified causal models can be expressed as weighted averages of longitudinal causal effects of interest. Unsurprisingly, these sufficient conditions are very restrictive, and our results state that the quantities estimated in practice should be interpreted with caution in general, as they usually do not relate to any longitudinal causal effect of interest. Our simulations further illustrate that the bias between the quantities estimated in practice and the weighted averages of longitudinal causal effects of interest can be substantial. Overall, our results confirm the need for repeated measurements to conduct proper analyses and/or the development of sensitivity analyses when they are not available.

Changes in Alcohol Consumption among Different Population Groups during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Outcomes of the Slovenian Cross-Sectional National Survey (SI-PANDA)

BACKGROUND

Slovenia ranks amongst the countries with the highest recorded alcohol consumption. The mortality rate attributed to alcohol-related causes of death in Slovenia also exceeds the EU average. The aim of our research was to confirm the changes in alcohol consumption in Slovenia during the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic on a representative sample and to identify vulnerable groups at higher risk of increasing alcohol consumption.

METHODS

Two consecutive data collections of the National Survey on the Impact of the Pandemic on Life, each in different epidemiological situations, were conducted. A structured questionnaire was used to monitor the number of alcoholic beverages consumed during the pandemic, compared to the time before the pandemic.

RESULTS

The majority of the population did not change the number of alcoholic beverages consumed, and among those with changes, there were significantly more of those who drank less than those who drank more. Among respondents who drank a greater number of alcoholic beverages, statistically significantly higher proportions were found in younger age groups, people with post-secondary vocational education or higher, and people with a higher probability of mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

During the pandemic crisis, we need to pay special attention to vulnerable groups that are at higher risk of increasing alcohol use.

Perceived mental health, work, and life stress in association with the amount of weekly alcohol consumption among Canadian adults who have ever drank

Background

Excess alcohol consumption has multifaceted adverse impacts at individual, household, and community levels. The study primarily aims at assessing the role of perceived health and stress in alcohol consumption among adults in Canada who have ever drank.

Methods

The study was conducted based on a total of 35,928 Canadian adults aged 18 and above who have ever drank, extracted from the 2017–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data. A mixed-effect Negative Binomial (NB) regression model was used to determine the effects of three key risk factors (perceived mental health, life stress, and work stress) in association with the self-reported number of weekly alcohol consumption, controlling for other variables in the model.

Results

The study found that regular alcohol consumption among ever drank Canadian adults is high, with the self-reported number of weekly alcohol consumption ranging from 0 to 210. The results of adjusted mixed-effect NB regression showed that the expected mean of alcohol consumption was significantly higher among those with a poorer perception of mental health, higher perceived work, and life stress. Nonsmokers have a much lower mean score of alcohol consumption compared to those who smoke daily. There was a significant interaction between racial background and the three key predictors (perceived mental health, life stress, and work stress).

Conclusion

Given the reported perceived health and stress significantly impacts alcohol consumption, the findings suggested improving individual/group counseling, and health education focusing on home and work environment to prevent and manage life stressors and drivers to make significant program impacts.

Healthy lifestyle over the life course: Population trends and individual changes over 30 years of the Doetinchem Cohort Study

For five health-related lifestyle factors (physical activity, weight, smoking, sleep, and alcohol consumption) we describe both population trends and individual changes over a period of 30 years in the same adult population. Dichotomous indicators (healthy/unhealthy) of lifestyle were analyzed for 3,139 participants measured every 5 years in the Doetinchem Cohort Study (1987-2017). Population trends over 30 years in physical inactivity and "unhealthy" alcohol consumption were flat (i.e., stable); overweight and unhealthy sleep prevalence increased; smoking prevalence decreased. The proportion of the population being healthy on all five lifestyle factors declined from 17% in the round 1 to 10.8% in round 6. Underlying these trends a dynamic pattern of changes at the individual level was seen: sleep duration and physical activity level changed in almost half of the individuals; Body Mass Index (BMI) and alcohol consumption in one-third; smoking in one-fourth. Population trends don't give insight into change at the individual level. In order to be able to gauge the potential for change of health-related lifestyle, it is important to take changes at the individual level into account.

Social capital and alcohol risks among older adults (50 years and over): analysis from the Drink Wise Age Well Survey

Although there has been significant research on the relationship between alcohol consumption and demographic and psychological influences, this does not consider the effect of social influence among older drinkers and if these effects differ between men and women. One aspect of social influence is social capital. The aim of this paper is to examine whether relational and cognitive social capital are associated with higher or lower risk of alcohol use among adults aged 50 years or older and to assess the extent to which this relationship differs between men and women. To investigate this, data were collected from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of adults over the age of 50 in the United Kingdom who were recruited from general practitioners. The sample consisted of 9,984 individuals whose mean age was 63.87 years. From these data, we developed proxy measures of social capital and associate these with the respondent's level of alcohol consumption as measured on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-10) scale. In the sample, just over 20 per cent reported an increasing risk or dependency on alcohol. Using two expressions of social capital – relational (social relationships) and cognitive (knowledge acquisition and understanding) – we found that greater levels of both are associated with a reduced risk of higher drinking risk. Being female had no significant effect when combined with relational capital but did have a significant effect when combined with cognitive capital. It is argued that interventions to enhance social relations among older people and education to help understand alcohol risks would be helpful to protect older people from the damaging effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Gender Differences in the Factors Associated with Alcohol Binge Drinking: A Population-Based Analysis in a Latin American Country

Alcohol consumption is a public health problem in Peru, fostered by traditional practices, where promoting social interaction in celebrations, facilitating field work as a source of energy and warmth, and achieving objectives in certain labor negotiations, play an important role. However, research on the risk factors of binge drinking according to gender is limited. The study aim was to determine the factors associated with binge drinking in the Peruvian adult population by gender. An analytical study of secondary data from the 2018 Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey was conducted. The dependent variable was binge drinking in the last 30 days. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were estimated for the association between sociodemographic and health-related variables with binge drinking. A total of 32,020 adults were included. Binge drinking was found in 22.4%. Men (32.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.4–33.8) presented a higher consumption pattern compared to women (12.8%; 95% CI: 12.0–13.6). For both genders, differences were found in binge drinking according to sociodemographic characteristics (age and wealth quintile was associated in both genders while the educational level was associated only for men, and ethnic self-identification and marital status for women) and health- characteristics related (health insurance, smoking in the last 30 days, overweight and obesity were associated in both genders). Several factors are associated with binge drinking according to gender in the Peruvian population, including age and education level among men, as well as marital status and ethnic self-identification among women.

Long-Term Trends (1994-2011) and Predictors of Total Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages Consumption: The EPIC Greece Cohort

The aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal changes in alcohol consumption (total alcohol and types of alcoholic beverages) of the Greek EPIC cohort participants (28,572) during a 17-year period (1994-2011), with alcohol information being recorded repeatedly over time. Descriptive statistics were used to show crude trends in drinking behavior. Mixed-effects models were used to study the consumption of total alcohol, wine, beer and spirits/other alcoholic beverages in relation to birth cohort, socio-demographic, lifestyle and health factors. We observed a decreasing trend of alcohol intake as age increased, consistent for total alcohol consumption and the three types of beverages. Older birth cohorts had lower initial total alcohol consumption (8 vs. 10 g/day) and steeper decline in wine, spirits/other alcoholic beverages and total alcohol consumption compared to younger cohorts. Higher education and smoking at baseline had a positive association with longitudinal total alcohol consumption, up to +30% (vs. low education) and more than +25% (vs. non-smoking) respectively, whereas female gender, obesity, history of heart attack, diabetes, peptic ulcer and high blood pressure at baseline had a negative association of -85%, -25%, -16%, -37%, -22% and -24% respectively. Alcohol consumption changed over age with different trends among the studied subgroups and types of alcohol, suggesting targeted monitoring of alcohol consumption.

History of healthcare use and disease burden in older adults with different levels of alcohol use. A register-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Only a minority of individuals with problematic alcohol use ever seek alcohol treatment. Knowledge of general help-seeking behavior in the healthcare system can identify possibilities for prevention and intervention.

METHOD

The current study describes healthcare use, burden of disease, and prior morbidities over a 15-year period by current alcohol use behavior among Danish adults aged 60-70. The Danish National Health Survey 2013 and the baseline assessment of the Elderly Study (2014-2016) were linked to Danish national registers to collect annual information on healthcare use and morbidity for the 15 years prior to inclusion. Participants from the 3 largest Danish municipalities were divided into 4 groups with varying drinking patterns and no recent treatment [12-month abstinent (n = 691), low-risk drinkers (n = 1978), moderate-risk drinkers (n = 602), and high-risk drinkers (n = 467)], and a group of treatment-seeking individuals with a 12-month DSM-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD; n=262). Negative binomial regression models were utilized to compare rates of healthcare use and logistic regressions were used to compare odds of diagnoses.

RESULTS

Low-, moderate-, and high-risk drinkers had similar rates of past healthcare utilization (low-risk mean yearly number of contacts for primary care 7.50 (yearly range 6.25-8.45), outpatient care 0.80 (0.41-1.32) and inpatient care 0.13 (0.10-0.21)). Higher rates were observed for both the 12-month abstinent group (adjusted RR = 1.16-1.26) and the group with AUD (ARR = 1.40-1.60) compared to the group with low-risk alcohol consumption. Individuals with AUD had higher odds of previous liver disease (adjusted OR = 6.30), ulcer disease (AOR = 2.83), and peripheral vascular disease (AOR 2.71). Twelve-month abstinence was associated with higher odds of diabetes (AOR = 1.97) and ulcer disease (AOR = 2.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Looking back in time, we found that older adults had regular healthcare contacts, with those who received treatment for AUD having had the highest contact frequency and prevalence of alcohol-related diseases. Thus, healthcare settings are suitable locations for efforts at AUD prevention and intervention.

Adherence to Drinking Guidelines and Reasons for Alcohol Consumption Cessation in the Southern Cone of Latin America - Findings from the CESCAS Study

Introduction

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality globally. Consumption levels in Southern Latin America are among the highest in the world.

Objectives

To describe consumption patterns and adherence to guidelines in the general adult population of Southern Latin America, as well as exploration of reasons for alcohol cessation and the advising role of the health worker in this decision.

Methods

In 7,520 participants from the Centro de Excelencia en Salud Cardiovascular para el America del Sur (CESCAS) cohort, consumption patterns were described and the proportion excessive drinkers (i.e. >7 units/week for women and >14 for men or binge drinking: >4 (women) or >5 (men) units at a single occasion) was calculated. Former drinkers were asked if they had quit alcohol consumption on the advice of a health worker and/or because of health reasons. Furthermore, among former drinkers, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess which participant characteristics were independently associated with the chance of quitting consumption on a health worker's advice.

Results

Mean age was 54.8 years (SD = 10.8), 42% was male. Current drinking was reported by 44.6%, excessive drinking by 8.5% of the population. In former drinkers, 23% had quit alcohol consumption because of health reasons, half of them had additionally quit on the advice of a health worker. The majority of former drinkers however had other, unknown, reasons. When alcohol cessation was based on a health worker's advice, sex, country of residence, educational status and frequency of visiting a physician were independent predictors.

Conclusion

In this Southern American population-based sample, most participants adhered to the alcohol consumption guidelines. The advising role of the health worker in quitting alcohol consumption was only modest and the motivation for the majority of former drinkers remains unknown. A more detailed assessment of actual advice rates and exploration of additional reasons for alcohol cessation might be valuable for alcohol policy making.

Key Subgroup Differences in Age-Related Change From 18 to 55 in Alcohol and Marijuana Use: U.S. National Data

OBJECTIVE

This study examined age-related change in alcohol use, marijuana use, and the association between the two, from ages 18 to 55, in a national longitudinal sample.

METHOD

Data were from national Monitoring the Future study participants (N = 11,888) who were high school seniors in 1976-1980 and were eligible to respond to the age 55 survey in 2013-2017. Time-varying effect modeling was used to model past-30-day prevalence and associations between alcohol and marijuana across ages 18-55, overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, and college attendance.

RESULTS

Marijuana prevalence peaked at age 18 and was lowest in the late 40s; alcohol prevalence peaked at age 22 and was lowest in the early 40s. Associations between alcohol and marijuana use were strongest at age 18. Significant differences were observed by sex, race/ethnicity, and college attendance (e.g., women's use was lower and decreased faster in the late 30s than men's; White respondents' alcohol and marijuana use were higher and peaked before Black respondents'; compared with non-attenders, college attenders' use was higher for alcohol but lower for marijuana). The alcohol and marijuana use association was strongest at ages 18-20 for most subgroups, except Black respondents, for whom the association was strongest at age 30.

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal data showed patterns of alcohol and marijuana use across adulthood. Such patterns highlight sociodemographic risk factors across the life span, ages that should be targeted for clinician awareness and intervention efforts, and populations at particular risk of harm from alcohol and marijuana co-use during adulthood.

Key Subgroup Differences in Age-Related Change From 18 to 55 in Alcohol and Marijuana Use: U.S. National Data

OBJECTIVE

This study examined age-related change in alcohol use, marijuana use, and the association between the two, from ages 18 to 55, in a national longitudinal sample.

METHOD

Data were from national Monitoring the Future study participants (N = 11,888) who were high school seniors in 1976-1980 and were eligible to respond to the age 55 survey in 2013-2017. Time-varying effect modeling was used to model past-30-day prevalence and associations between alcohol and marijuana across ages 18-55, overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, and college attendance.

RESULTS

Marijuana prevalence peaked at age 18 and was lowest in the late 40s; alcohol prevalence peaked at age 22 and was lowest in the early 40s. Associations between alcohol and marijuana use were strongest at age 18. Significant differences were observed by sex, race/ethnicity, and college attendance (e.g., women's use was lower and decreased faster in the late 30s than men's; White respondents' alcohol and marijuana use were higher and peaked before Black respondents'; compared with non-attenders, college attenders' use was higher for alcohol but lower for marijuana). The alcohol and marijuana use association was strongest at ages 18-20 for most subgroups, except Black respondents, for whom the association was strongest at age 30.

CONCLUSIONS

Longitudinal data showed patterns of alcohol and marijuana use across adulthood. Such patterns highlight sociodemographic risk factors across the life span, ages that should be targeted for clinician awareness and intervention efforts, and populations at particular risk of harm from alcohol and marijuana co-use during adulthood.

The Impact of Retirement on Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

Background and Objectives

People are now spending longer in retirement than ever before and retirement has been found to influence health. This study systematically reviewed the impact of retirement on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors (metabolic risk factors, blood biomarkers, physical activity, smoking, drinking, and diet).

Research Design and Methods

Longitudinal studies published in Medline, Embase, Social Science Citation Index, PsycINFO, and Social Policy and Practice were searched. No language restrictions were applied if there was an English abstract. Eighty-two longitudinal studies were included after critical appraisals.

Results

Studies in the United States often found no significant effect of retirement on CVD, while studies in European countries, except France, showed a detrimental effect of retirement on CVD. Results from the United States and several European countries consistently show that retirement increase adiposity measures among those retired from physically demanding jobs. For diabetes and hypertension, five out of nine studies suggest no effect of retirement. Retirement has been repeatedly linked to increasing leisure-time physical activity but may reduce work- and transport-related physical activity in turn. Most studies showed that retirement either decreased smoking or had no effect on smoking. The evidence did not show a clear conclusion on drinking. Only a few studies have assessed the impact on diet and blood biomarkers.

Discussion and Implications

Effect of retirement varies according to the health outcomes studied and country of the study population. Policy concerning extending the retirement age needs to focus on ensuring they are suited to the individual.

Current drinking patterns in US veterans with a lifetime history of alcohol use disorder: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

Background: Although more than 40% of US military veterans have lifetime histories of alcohol use disorder (AUD), little is known about the prevalence and correlates of current drinking patterns (i.e., abstinent, subthreshold, hazardous drinking) in this population. Objectives: To characterize the prevalence and key correlates of abstinence, subthreshold drinking, and hazardous drinking in a nationally representative sample of US veterans with lifetime AUD. Methods: Data from 1,282 veterans with lifetime AUD who participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study were analyzed using analyses of variance, chi-square analyses, and multinomial regression models. Results: Of the 1,282 veterans with lifetime AUD (of which 94.7% were males), 674 (48.2%) were past-year subthreshold drinkers, 317 (28.0%) were abstinent and 291 (23.8%) were hazardous drinkers. Abstinent veterans were older, less educated, less socially engaged, and had higher levels of religiosity than subthreshold and hazardous drinkers. They were also more likely to smoke, screen positive for PTSD, reported greater somatic symptoms than subthreshold drinkers, and had more physical difficulties and lifetime trauma than hazardous drinkers. Subthreshold drinkers were more likely than hazardous drinkers to be female and report physical health problems and less likely to smoke and be depressed. Conclusion: More than three-quarters of US veterans with lifetime AUD are currently abstinent or subthreshold drinkers. Factors associated with abstinence included older age, health problems, religiosity and social engagement. Results suggest a "J-shaped" relationship between current drinking patterns and health and psychosocial factors in veterans, with subthreshold drinkers generally having better health than abstinent and hazardous drinkers.

Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol Use Disorders Across the Lifespan

Purpose of Review

Losing and regaining control over alcohol intake varies as a function of individual-level predictors across the lifespan. Specifically, the interplay of protective and risk factors for losing and regaining control, particularly in real-life settings, is thus far poorly understood. Individual differences in cognition, affect, emotion regulation, social factors, and personality traits, together with individual differences in brain structure and function, and biological markers of stress exposure may have different effects on alcohol consumption in different age groups. We will review current evidence for age-specific effects for losing and regaining control over alcohol intake and propose a framework for investigation across age groups.

Recent Findings

We find evidence for differences in relative impact of psychosocial predictors of alcohol consumption as a function of age that varies by gender. There is theoretical reason to assume that predictors vary in the time course of their taking effect: While e.g., early trauma and personality traits may be conceptualized as more distant antecedents of alcohol consumption, cognition, affect and emotion regulation can be conceptualized as co-correlates, where variation over periods of months may go along with changes in alcohol consumption. At the same time, craving, current stressors, and priming events may serve as short-term or immediate causes of alcohol consumption.

Summary

We propose a combination of longitudinal age cohorts to (i) identify individual-level differences (using latent growth curve models) and profiles (using latent growth mixture models) of the psychosocial and biological variables of interest that predict regaining or losing control, and ambulatory assessments every 2 days, in order to (ii) investigate effects of triggers and risk factors on current alcohol consumption. This approach will allow us to characterize age-related differences in the interplay between these factors in real-life settings.

Prevalence and sociodemographic factors of risky drinking in Australian older adults

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

This study describes the prevalence of risky drinking in older adults (aged 60+ years) in Australia and explores the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with this. The negative consequences of drinking behaviours in older adults were also explored.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Cross-sectional design, with data obtained from the Australian 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, yielding a sample size of 7976 participants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the correlates of risky drinking.

RESULTS

Approximately 17% of older Australians reported risky drinking and their most popular drinking location was in the home (93%). Respondents who were male [odds ratio 3.78, 95% confidence interval (3.22, 4.43)], of younger age group (60-69 years) [2.96, (2.25, 3.89)], in a higher socioeconomic status [1.76, (1.41, 2.21)], had no dependents [1.51, (1.10, 2.07)], were unemployed [1.64, (1.10, 2.44)] and were either current or ex-smokers [2.32, (1.90, 2.83) or 3.55, (2.95, 4.29)], were more likely to report risky drinking. Approximately 54% of risky drinkers experienced a negative outcome as a result of their drinking in the last year.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Risky drinking in older adults is a key public health issue, with a concerning rate of risky drinking and associated negative outcomes seen in the current study. Interventions aimed at older drinkers thus need to focus beyond socio-economically disadvantaged groups, while self-moderation on risky drinking, controlling accessibility to take-away alcohol and increasing the awareness of harms of risky drinking may help to reduce risky drinking among older people.

Alcohol and Dementia - What is the Link? A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Dementia is a globally increasing health issue and since no cure is currently available, prevention is crucial. The consumption of alcohol is a controversially discussed risk factor for dementia. While many previously published epidemiological studies reported a risk reduction by light to moderate alcohol consumption, there is no persuasive model of an underlying biochemical mechanism. The purpose of this article is to review current models on alcohol neurotoxicity and dementia and to analyze and compare studies focusing on the epidemiological link between alcohol consumption and the risk of dementia.

METHODS

The electronic database Pubmed was searched for studies published between 1994 and 2019 concerning the topic.

RESULTS

Available epidemiological studies are not sufficient to verify a protective effect of alcohol on dementia development.

Smoking cessation mutually facilitates alcohol drinking cessation among tobacco and alcohol co-users: A cross-sectional study in a rural area of Shanghai, China

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking are strongly paired behaviours, affecting millions of people worldwide. Studies in western countries demonstrate that alcohol use among smokers makes it harder to quit smoking, and addressing alcohol use is particularly important for smoking cessation, but the evidence is limited in China. We conducted a cross-sectional study to understand the prevalence of smoking, drinking, as well as tobacco and alcohol co-use, and to explore how smoking cessation mutually facilitates drinking cessation among tobacco and alcohol co-users.

METHODS

During 2016 and 2017, we sampled 36698 participants aged >18 years in Songjiang district, Shanghai. A questionnaire was designed to collect data, and participants were classified into non-smokers and smokers (current and former smokers), as well as non-alcohol drinkers and alcohol drinkers (current and former alcohol drinkers). SAS software was applied to analyse the differences by weighted logistic regressions.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and tobacco and alcohol co-use was 23.53%, 13.52% and 9.85%, respectively. Smoking cessation prevalence was 15.93%, which was higher than drinking cessation prevalence (8.22%). Tobacco and alcohol co-users had a higher prevalence of smoking cessation (16.95%) than participants who were only smokers (15.20%) and had higher prevalence of alcohol drinking cessation (8.71%) than residents who were only drinkers (6.91%). Tobacco and alcohol co-users who stopped alcohol drinking were much more likely to stop smoking than those who still drank alcohol (OR=8.83; 95% CI: 6.91–11.28) or those who only smoked (OR=7.51; 95% CI: 5.93–9.52).

CONCLUSIONS

Drinking cessation prevalence was lower than that of smoking cessation, and drinking cessation could mutually facilitate smoking cessation among tobacco and alcohol co-users. Tobacco smoking cessation programs could incorporate alcohol drinking cessation measures to achieve higher public health benefits.

Ten-Year Trajectories of Alcohol Consumption in Older Adult New Zealanders

OBJECTIVES

Older adults are often treated as a homogeneous drinking group, but research suggests that they engage with alcohol in various ways, ranging from abstention to heavy drinking. The study aimed to (i) identify subgroups of older adults based on changes in frequency and quantity of alcohol use over 10 years and (ii) examine co-occurring changes in mental and physical health.

METHOD

Data were collected biennially between 2006 and 2016 from 2,632 New Zealanders (55-70 years old at baseline). Latent class growth analysis was performed to identify trajectories of alcohol use. Co-occurring changes in physical and mental health were examined using latent growth curve analysis.

RESULTS

Five drinking profiles emerged: (i) infrequent, low-quantity consumers; (ii) highly frequent, low-quantity consumers; (iii) moderately frequent, high-quantity consumers; (iv) moderately frequent, low-quantity consumers; and (v) highly frequent, high-quantity consumers. Drinking trajectories demonstrated no change or slight declines in frequency and quantity over time. Frequent and moderately frequent, high-quantity drinking was more prevalent among men, younger participants, and active smokers. Moderately frequent, heavy drinkers were in very poor health. Frequent and moderately frequent, low-quantity drinking was associated with better health and economic well-being. Infrequent, low-quantity consumers were more likely to be women and in poor health.

DISCUSSION

The five drinking profiles indicate that older adults engage with alcohol in diverse ways. Two of these patterns indicated potentially hazardous use, which highlights the need for screening and intervention in this age group.

[Alcohol consumption patterns and associated factors among elderly Brazilians: National Health Survey (2013)]

The scope of this study was to analyze the pattern of alcohol consumption among elderly Brazilians (60 years and over) and their association with sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits and health conditions. This is a cross-sectional study of 10,537 elderly (90.1%) participants from the National Health Survey of 2013. The consumption of alcoholic beverages was classified as non-use, mild / moderate use and risk use. The multinomial regression model was used to study the associated factors. The prevalence for mild / moderate and risk use was 9.4% (95% CI: 8.4- 10.6%) and 4.6% (95%CI: 4.0-5.3%), respectively. The two consumption patterns were inversely associated with age and more frequent among men, better schooling, smokers and physical activity practitioners. Mild / moderate consumption was less frequent among non-whites and those with a history of stroke and diabetes, whereas risk use was less frequent among the elderly diagnosed for heart disease and more frequent among those suffering from depression. This result identifies profiles of greater vulnerability, with small differences between two patterns of consumption. This information should be considered in the preparation of proposals to promote healthy habits and control of alcohol use among the elderly.

Estimating Long-Term Drinking Patterns for People with Lifetime Alcohol Use Disorder

Background. There is a lack of data on alcohol consumption over time. This study characterizes the long-term drinking patterns of people with lifetime alcohol use disorders who have engaged in treatment or informal care. Methods. We developed multinomial logit models using the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) to estimate short-term transition probabilities (TPs) among the 4 World Health Organization drinking risk levels (low, medium, high, and very high risk) and abstinence by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We applied an optimization algorithm to convert 3-year TPs from NESARC to 1-year TPs, then used simulated annealing to calibrate TPs to a propensity-scored matched set of participants derived from a separate 16-year study of alcohol consumption. We validated the resulting long-term TPs using NESARC-III, a cross-sectional study conducted on a different cohort. Results. Across 24 demographic groups, the 1-year probability of remaining in the same state averaged 0.93, 0.81, 0.49, 0.51, and 0.63 for abstinent, low, medium, high, and very high-risk states, respectively. After calibration to the 16-year study data (N = 420), resulting TPs produced state distributions that hit the calibration target. We find that the abstinent or low-risk states are very stable, and the annual probability of leaving the very high-risk state increases by about 20 percentage points beyond 8 years. Limitations. TPs for some demographic groups had small cell sizes. The data used to calibrate long-term TPs are based on a geographically narrow study. Conclusions. This study is the first to characterize long-term drinking patterns by combining short-term representative data with long-term data on drinking behaviors. Current research is using these patterns to estimate the long-term cost effectiveness of alcohol treatment.

Factors associated with low health literacy among community-dwelling women in Taiwan

The present study investigated factors associated with health literacy in community-dwelling Taiwanese women, particularly focusing on those associated with prevalent unhealthy behaviors. This cross-sectional study recruited 353 community-dwelling women aged 39-89 years from February to October 2015 in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Variables investigated included physical activity, community activity, tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, and betel-nut chewing. Degree of health literacy was evaluated using the Chinese-language version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Most respondents had inadequate (17.6%), or problematic (49.3%), general health literacy. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that low educational attainment was closely associated with inadequate or problematic general health literacy. Women who did not engage in regular physical activity or direct community activity were more likely to have inadequate and problematic general health literacy, respectively. Selected unhealthy behaviors (tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, betel-nut chewing) were not associated with health literacy. Low health literacy was prevalent among participants. Lower educational attainment and a lack of physical or community activity were associated with low health literacy. Health literacy should be considered during the process of delivering health information, and health education programs must enhance health literacy tailored to address individuals' lifestyles.

The lingering effects of work context: Ambient work-unit characteristics and the impact of retirement on alcohol consumption

While it is well established that workplace demands and culture can affect employee well-being, to what degree might these same factors have lingering implications on individual wellbeing after employees retire? To begin to answer this question, in this paper we propose and test a model explaining how retiree alcohol consumption may depend on pre-retirement contextual conditions. Specifically, we propose and test a moderated-mediation model in which two ambient work unit characteristics-work-unit stress climate and work-unit drinking norms-moderate the indirect effects of retirement, via distress, on modal alcohol consumption (i.e., the typical quantity and frequency of alcohol consumed). Using a prospective study design and a multi-level, zero-inflated negative binomial model for predicting modal alcohol consumption, our findings lend partial support for the proposed model. We found retirement (vs. continued employment) to be associated with a heightened probability of being an abstainer after retirement eligibility (i.e., at Time 2), regardless of the hypothesized unit-level moderators. Still, retirement had mixed effects on the level of modal consumption among those not abstaining at Time 2, with these effects being partially mediated by distress and contingent upon unit-level stress climate and unit-level drinking norms.

A Prospective Study of Health Conditions Related to Alcohol Consumption Cessation Among 97,852 Drinkers Aged 45 and Over in Australia

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that people who develop serious health conditions are likely to cease drinking alcohol (sometimes known as "sick-quitters"). We quantified the likelihood of quitting drinking in relation to the onset of a variety of health conditions.

METHODS

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ceasing alcohol consumption after diagnosis of 28 health conditions and 4 general indicators of health were derived from logistic regression among 97,852 drinkers aged ≥ 45 years between baseline (2006 to 2009) and median 5.3 years of follow-up in the New South Wales 45 and Up Study. Incident health conditions at follow-up were self-reported.

RESULTS

At follow-up, 9.6% (n = 9,438) of drinkers had ceased drinking. Drinking cessation was significantly associated with 24 of 32 health conditions examined: 15.4% of participants with newly diagnosed diabetes quit drinking (OR for quitting vs. continuing 1.77, 95% CI: 1.60 to 1.96), 16.4% with Parkinson's disease (1.71, 1.35 to 2.17), 17.8% with poor memory (1.68, 1.43 to 1.97), 19.2% with hip fracture (1.64, 1.30 to 2.06), 14.7% with stroke (1.45, 1.27 to 1.66), 12.5% with depression (1.40, 1.26 to 1.55), 15.0% with breast cancer (1.38, 1.18 to 1.61), 12.3% with heart disease (1.34, 1.25 to 1.44), and 13.3% with osteoarthritis (1.22, 1.12 to 1.33). Strong associations with quitting were observed in those with a decline in self-rated overall health (2.93, 2.53 to 3.40) and quality of life (2.68, 2.24 to 3.21). Some health conditions not significantly associated with quitting were prostate cancer, melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, hay fever, and hearing loss. Findings were generally consistent for men and women, by age group and by smoking status.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis with a variety of health conditions appears to prompt drinking cessation in older adults.

AUDIT-C and ICD codes as phenotypes for harmful alcohol use: association with ADH1B polymorphisms in two US populations

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data offer a large-scale, untapped source of phenotypical information on harmful alcohol use. Using established, alcohol-associated variants in the gene that encodes the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) as criterion standards, we compared the individual and combined validity of three longitudinal EHR-based phenotypes of harmful alcohol use: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) trajectories; mean age-adjusted AUDIT-C; and diagnoses of alcohol use disorder (AUD).

DESIGN

With longitudinal EHR data from the Million Veteran Program (MVP) linked to genetic data, we used two population-specific polymorphisms in ADH1B that are associated strongly with AUD in African Americans (AAs) and European Americans (EAs): rs2066702 (Arg369Cys, AAs) and rs1229984 (Arg48His, EAs) as criterion measures.

SETTING

United States Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 167 721 veterans (57 677 AAs and 110 044 EAs; 92% male, mean age = 63 years) took part in this study. Data were collected from 1  October 2007 to 1 May 2017.

MEASUREMENTS

Using all AUDIT-C scores and AUD diagnostic codes recorded in the EHR, we calculated age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C values, longitudinal statistical trajectories of AUDIT-C scores and ICD-9/10 diagnostic groupings for AUD.

FINDINGS

A total of 19 793 AAs (34.3%) had one or two minor alleles at rs2066702 [minor allele frequency (MAF) = 0.190] and 6933 EAs (6.3%) had one or two minor alleles at rs1229984 (MAF = 0.032). In both populations, trajectories and age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C were correlated (r = 0.90) but, when considered separately, highest score (8+ versus 0) of age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C demonstrated a stronger association with the ADH1B variants [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.54 in AAs and 0.37 in AAs] than did the highest trajectory (aOR 0.71 in AAs and 0.53 in EAs); combining AUDIT-C metrics did not improve discrimination. When age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C score and AUD diagnoses were considered together, age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C (8+ versus 0) was associated with lower odds of having the ADH1B minor allele than were AUD diagnostic codes: aOR = 0.59 versus 0.86 in AAs and 0.48 versus 0.68 in EAs. These independent associations combine to yield an even lower aOR of 0.51 for AAs and 0.33 for EAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The age-adjusted mean AUDIT-C score is associated more strongly with genetic polymorphisms of known risk for alcohol use disorder than are longitudinal trajectories of AUDIT-C or AUD diagnostic codes. AUD diagnostic codes modestly enhance this association.

Trajectories of alcohol consumption in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

While alcohol use disorder is prevalent in U.S. veterans, little is known about the nature and determinants of predominant trajectories of alcohol consumption in this population. The objective of the current study was to identify predominant trajectories of alcohol consumption over a 4-year period, and baseline determinants of these trajectories in veterans.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veteran Study, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,157 veterans (Wave 1). Assessments (Waves 2 and 3) were conducted every 2 years thereafter. Alcohol consumption was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, a brief alcohol screen for identifying problematic drinking based on alcohol consumption. Wave 1 sociodemographic, military, health, and psychosocial variables were examined as possible determinants of trajectories of alcohol consumption.

RESULTS

Latent growth mixture modeling revealed that a four-class model best fit the data: rare drinkers (65.3%), moderate drinkers (30.2%), excessive drinkers (2.6%), and recovering drinkers (1.9%). Lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) was linked to an excessive drinking trajectory, while fewer medical conditions and lower social support were linked to a moderate drinking trajectory. Having a secure attachment style and greater social support, and absence of lifetime MDD was linked to recovery from excessive drinking.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Four predominant trajectories of alcohol consumption were identified. Targeting MDD and related interpersonal factors such as attachment style and social support in population-based prevention and treatment initiatives may help prevent, mitigate, and promote recovery from excessive alcohol consumption in veterans. (Am J Addict 2018;XX:1-8).

The "Health Benefits" of Moderate Drinking in Older Adults may be Better Explained by Socioeconomic Status

Objectives

To assess whether a relationship between alcohol use and health exists for older adults before and after controlling for proxy and full indicators of socioeconomic status (SES).

Method

Secondary analysis of data from 2,908 participants in the New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2012) completing measures of alcohol use, health, SES proxies (income, education) and SES. Sample mean age was 65, 52% were female, more than 80% were drinkers, and more than 75% had educational qualifications.

Results

Moderate drinkers had better health and SES than heavier or nondrinkers. The positive influence of moderate alcohol consumption on health was observed for men and women when controlling for SES proxies, but was substantially reduced in women and completely disappeared for men when controlling for full SES.

Discussion

SES plays a key role in presumed "heath benefits" of moderate alcohol consumption for older adults. It accounts for any alcohol-health relationship in a sample of men of whom 45% consume at least one drink daily, and substantially attenuates the association between alcohol and health in a sample of women who are not frequent drinkers. Prior research may have missed the influence of SES on this alcohol-health relationship due to the use of incomplete SES measures.

Lifecourse transitions, gender and drinking in later life

Older people consume less alcohol than any other adult age group. However, in recent years survey data on alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom have shown that while younger age groups have experienced a decline in alcohol consumption, drinking behaviours among the elderly have not reduced in the same way. This paper uses data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to analyse both the frequency and quantity of older adult's alcohol consumption using a lifecourse approach over a ten-year period. Overall drinking declined over time and the analysis examined how socio-economic characteristics, partnership, employment and health statuses were associated with differences in drinking behaviours and how these changed over time. Higher wealth and level of education were associated with drinking more and drinking more frequently for men and women. Poorer self-rated health was associated with less frequent consumption and older people with poor and deteriorating health reported a steeper decline in the frequency of alcohol consumption over time. Men who were not in a partnership drank more than other men. For women, loss of a partner was associated with a steeper decline in drinking behaviours. These findings have implications for programmes to promote responsible drinking among older adults as they suggest that, for the most part, characteristics associated with sustaining wellbeing in later life are also linked to consuming more alcohol.

Factors Associated With High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among LGB Older Adults: The Roles of Gender, Social Support, Perceived Stress, Discrimination, and Stigma

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults have elevated rates of high-risk alcohol consumption compared with heterosexual adults. Although drinking tends to decline with age in the general population, we know little about LGB older adults' drinking. Using 2014 data from Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS), we aimed to identify factors associated with high-risk drinking in LGB older adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A U.S. sample of 2,351 LGB adults aged 50-98 years completed a survey about personal and social experiences, substance use, and health. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of past-month high-risk alcohol consumption.

RESULTS

Approximately one fifth (20.6%) of LGB older adults reported high-risk drinking, with nonsignificantly different rates between men (22.4%) and women (18.4%). For women, current smoking and greater social support were associated with greater likelihood of high-risk drinking; older age, higher income, recovery from addiction, and greater perceived stress were associated with lower likelihood. For men, higher income, current smoking, and greater day-to-day discrimination were associated with greater likelihood of high-risk drinking; transgender identity and recovery from addiction were associated with lower likelihood.

IMPLICATIONS

Social contexts and perceived drinking norms may encourage higher levels of alcohol consumption in LGB older women, whereas men's drinking may be linked with discrimination-related stress. Prevention and intervention with this population should take into account gender differences and sexual minority-specific risk factors. With future waves of data, we will be able to examine LGB older adults' drinking trajectories over time.

Psychotropic drug use and alcohol consumption among older adults in Germany: results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011

OBJECTIVES

The use and combined use of psychotropic drugs and alcohol among older adults is a growing public health concern and should be constantly monitored. Relevant studies are scarce in Germany. Using data of the most recent national health survey, we analyse prevalence and correlates of psychotropic drug and alcohol use among this population.

METHODS

Study participants were people aged 60-79 years (N=2508) of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011. Medicines used during the last 7 days were documented. Psychotropic drugs were defined as medicines acting on the nervous system (ATC code N00) excluding anaesthetics (N01), analgesics/antipyretics (N02B), but including opiate codeines used as antitussives (R05D). Alcohol consumption in the preceding 12 months was measured by frequency (drinking any alcohol-containing beverages at least once a week/a day) and quantity (alcohol consumed in grams/day; cut-offs: 10/20 g/day for women/men defining moderate and risky drinking). SPSS complex sample module was used for analysis.

RESULTS

21.4% of study participants use psychotropic medications, 66.9% consume alcohol moderately and 17.0% riskily, 51.0% drink alcohol at least once a week and 18.4% daily, 2.8% use psychotropic drugs combined with daily alcohol drinking. Among psychotropic drug users, 62.7% consume alcohol moderately, 14.2% riskily. The most frequently used psychotropic medications are antidepressants (7.9%) and antidementia (4.2%). Factors associated with a higher rate of psychotropic drug use are female sex, worse health status, certified disability and polypharmacy. Risky alcohol consumption is positively associated with male sex, smoking, upper social class, better health status, having no disability and not living alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the high risk of synergetic effects of psychotropic drugs and alcohol, a substantial part of older psychotropic drug users consume alcohol riskily and daily. Health professionals should talk about the additional health risks of alcohol consumption when prescribing psychotropic drugs to older adults.

Alcohol consumption after health deterioration in older adults: a mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVE

To examine if and how older adults modify their drinking after health deterioration, and the factors that motivate changing or maintaining stable drinking behaviour.

STUDY DESIGN

Explanatory follow-up mixed-methods research.

METHODS

The association between health deterioration and changes in alcohol consumption was examined using secondary data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a biennial prospective cohort study of a random sample of adults aged 50 years and older living in England. Data were collected through a personal interview and self-completion questionnaire across three waves between 2004 and 2009. The sample size (response rate) across the three waves was 8781 (49.9%), 7168 (40.3%) and 6623 (37.3%). The Chi-squared test was used to examine associations between diagnosis with a long-term condition or a worsening of self-rated health (e.g. from good to fair or fair to poor) and changes in drinking frequency (e.g. everyday, 5-6 days per week, etc.) and volume (ethanol consumed on a drinking day) between successive waves. In-depth interviews with 19 older adults recently diagnosed with a long-term condition were used to explore the factors that influenced change or maintenance in alcohol consumption over time. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit a diverse sample of current and former drinkers from voluntary and community organizations in the north of England. An inductive approach was used to analyze the data, facilitating the development of an a posteriori framework for understanding drinking change.

RESULTS

There was no significant relationship between health deterioration and changes in drinking volume over time. There was however a significant association between health deterioration and changes in drinking frequency between successive waves (χ² = 15.24, P < 0.001 and χ² = 17.28, P < 0.001). For example, of participants reporting health deterioration between the first two waves, 47.6% had stable drinking frequency, 23.4% increased their drinking frequency and 29% reported decreased drinking frequency. In comparison, of participants reporting no health deterioration, 52.7% reported stable frequency, 20.8% increased frequency and 26.4% decreased frequency. In qualitative interviews, older adults described a wide range of factors that influence changes in drinking behaviour: knowledge gained from talking to healthcare professionals, online and in the media; tangible negative experiences that were attributed to drinking; mood and emotions (e.g. joy); the cost of alcohol; pub closures; and changes in social roles and activities. Health was just one part of a complex mix of factors that influenced drinking among older adults.

CONCLUSION

Patterns of drinking change after health deterioration in older adults are diverse, including stable, increasing and decreasing alcohol consumption over time. Although health motivations to change drinking influence behaviour in some older adults, social and financial motivations to drink are also important in later life and thus a holistic approach is required to influence behaviour.

Life course outcomes for women with different alcohol consumption trajectories: A population-based longitudinal study

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Relatively little is known about the consequences for women of sustained higher levels of alcohol consumption. We examine three outcomes (marital relationship, reproductive health and well-being) for women with different alcohol consumption trajectories over 21 years.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were from a prospective cohort study in Brisbane, Queensland (n = 3337). Group-based trajectory modeling measured women's alcohol consumption trajectories spanning 21 years. Outcomes were measured using a self-report questionnaire at the 27-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Four trajectories of women's alcohol consumption were identified: abstaining, low-stable drinkers, moderate-escalating drinkers and heavy-escalating drinkers. Abstaining predicts positive outcomes measured at the 27-year follow-up such as being married, never having a divorce, never having multiple partners, and fewer pregnancy terminations. Moderate and heavy-escalating trajectories predict being unmarried, having multiple partners, having fewer children, having a termination of a previous pregnancy, and reporting lower levels of well-being at the 27-year follow-up.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The escalating-trajectory group is of particular interest as membership of this group is associated with a wide range of adverse life course outcomes by the 27-year follow-up. The consequences of moderate and heavy-escalating alcohol trajectories in a community sample of women whose pattern of alcohol consumption do not reach clinical criteria of problem drinking have not previously been described. Women with these sustained patterns of alcohol consumption are an appropriate target group for intervention programs. programs. [TranNT, Clavarino A,WilliamsGM,Najman JM. Life course outcomes for women with different alcohol consumption trajectories: A population-based longitudinal study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:763-771].

Association of Alcohol Use and Loneliness Frequency Among Middle-Aged and Older Adult Drinkers

OBJECTIVES

We examined the association between alcohol use, at-risk drinking, and binge drinking, and loneliness in a sample of middle-aged and older adults.

METHOD

We studied participants aged 50+ years from the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement Study who reported alcohol use. We ran separate multinomial logistic regressions to assess the association of three alcohol use outcomes (i.e., weekly alcohol consumption, at-risk drinking, and binge drinking) and loneliness.

RESULTS

After adjusting for covariates, being lonely was associated with reduced odds of weekly alcohol consumption 4 to 7 days per week, but not 1 to 3 days per week, compared with average alcohol consumption 0 days per week in the last 3 months. No association was found between at-risk drinking or binge drinking and loneliness.

DISCUSSION

Results suggest that among a sample of community-based adults aged 50+, loneliness was associated with reduced alcohol use frequency, but not with at-risk or binge drinking.

Is regular drinking in later life an indicator of good health? Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Background

Older people who drink have been shown to have better health than those who do not. This might suggest that moderate drinking is beneficial for health, or, as considered here, that older people modify their drinking as their health deteriorates. The relationship between how often older adults drink and their health is considered for two heath states: self-rated health (SRH) and depressive symptoms.

Methods

Data were analysed from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a prospective cohort study of older adults, using multilevel ordered logit analysis. The analysis involved 4741 participants present at wave 0, (1998/1999 and 2001), wave 4 (2008/2009) and wave 5 (2010/2011). The outcome measure was frequency of drinking in last year recorded at all three time points.

Results

Older adults with fair/poor SRH at the onset of the study drank less frequently compared with adults with good SRH (p<0.05). Drinking frequency declined over time for all health statuses, though respondents with both continual fair/poor SRH and declining SRH experienced a sharper reduction in the frequency of their drinking over time compared with older adults who remained in good SRH or whose health improved. The findings were similar for depression, though the association between depressive symptoms and drinking frequency at the baseline was not significant after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusions

The frequency of older adults’ drinking responds to changes in health status and drinking frequency in later life may be an indicator, rather than a cause, of health status.

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Status of Lifetime Abstainers, Ex-Drinkers, Bingers, and Nonbingers Among Baby Boomers and Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Health risks associated with abstention from alcohol drinking in previous studies may have been exaggerated because the pool of abstainers in many studies included both lifetime abstainers and ex-drinkers, including sick-quitters.

OBJECTIVES

This study compared sociodemographic and health statuses among lifetime abstainers, exdrinkers, bingers, and nonbingers in the 50-64 age group (baby boomers) and the 65+ age group.

METHODS

Data are from the 2008 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 18,443 for the 50-64 age group and N = 11,191 for the 65+ age group). Descriptive statistics and multinomial and binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the study questions.

RESULTS

10% of the 50-64 age group and 20% of the 65+ age group reported lifetime abstention, and 21% and 28% of each group, respectively, reported being ex-drinkers (i.e., last used alcohol more than 12 months ago). In both age groups, lifetime abstainers, exdrinkers, and bingers had lower socioeconomic status than nonbingers. In the 50-64 age group, lifetime abstainers did not differ from or were less likely than nonbingers to have vascular and hepatic/gastrointestinal (HGI) disorders, but exdrinkers were more likely to have these diseases, and both lifetime abstainers and exdrinkers were more likely to have diabetes. In the 65+ age group, lifetime abstainers did not differ from nonbingers on high blood pressure, heart disease, and HGI, but both they and the exdrinkers were more likely to have stroke and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE

Diabetes screening/monitoring and stroke prevention/care are recommended for both age groups of abstainers and exdrinkers.

Associations Between Socioeconomic Factors and Alcohol Outcomes

Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the many factors influencing a person's alcohol use and related outcomes. Findings have indicated that people with higher SES may consume similar or greater amounts of alcohol compared with people with lower SES, although the latter group seems to bear a disproportionate burden of negative alcohol-related consequences. These associations are further complicated by a variety of moderating factors, such as race, ethnicity, and gender. Thus, among individuals with lower SES, members of further marginalized communities, such as racial and ethnic minorities and homeless individuals, experience greater alcohol-related consequences. Future studies are needed to more fully explore the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between SES and alcohol outcomes. This knowledge should be applied toward the development of multilevel interventions that address not only individual-level risks but also economic disparities that have precipitated and maintained a disproportionate level of alcohol-related consequences among more marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Health Literacy Is Associated With Health Behaviors and Social Factors Among Older Adults: Results from the LifeLines Cohort Study

This study assesses the associations between health literacy and various health behaviors and social factors among older adults, and whether social factors moderate the other associations. Data from 3,241 participants in the LifeLines Cohort Study were analyzed (mean baseline age = 68.9 years). Data on health literacy, health behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, breakfast consumption, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), and social factors (loneliness, social support, social activities, social contacts, and living situation) were collected in three waves. Logistic regression analyses were used, adjusted for age and gender. Low health literacy was associated with insufficient physical activity, insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption, lack of regular breakfast consumption, obesity (odds ratios (ORs) > 1.31, p-values < .005) and low alcohol use (OR = 0.81, p = .013), but not with smoking. Low health literacy was also associated with greater loneliness, engaging in fewer social activities, and having fewer social contacts (ORs > 1.48, p-values < .005), but not with social support or living situation. Only the association between health literacy and smoking was moderated by social contacts, but this finding needs confirmation in future studies. In conclusion, low health literacy is negatively associated with health behaviors and social factors in older adults, but social factors seldom moderate the associations between health literacy and health behaviors.

Socio-economic Aspects of Health-Related Behaviors and Their Dynamics: A Case Study for the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have mostly focused on socio-demographic and health-related determinants of health-related behaviors. Although comprehensive health insurance coverage could discourage individual lifestyle improvement due to the ex-ante moral hazard problem, few studies have examined such effects. This study examines the association of a comprehensive set of factors including socio-demographic, health status, health insurance, and perceived change in health insurance coverage with health-related behaviors and their dynamics (ie, changes in behavior).

METHODS

Using Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data (a European aging survey among 50+ years old) for the Netherlands in 2004 and 2007 (sample size: 1745), binary and multinomial logit models are employed to study health-related behaviors (daily smoking, excessive alcohol use, and physical inactivity in 2004) and their corresponding changes (stopping or starting unhealthy behavior between 2004 and 2007).

RESULTS

Our findings show that being older, being female, having higher education and living with a partner increase the likelihood not to be a daily smoker or to stop daily smoking. At the same time, being older (OR = 3.02 [1.31, 6.95]) and being female (OR = 1.77 [1.05, 2.96]) increases the likelihood to be or to become physically inactive. We also find that worse perceived health insurance coverage in 2007 is associated with a lower likelihood (OR = 0.19 [0.06, 0.57]) of stopping excessive alcohol use in that year. However, we do not find a strong association between the type of health insurance and health behavior.

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that all above mentioned factors (ie, socio-demographic and health status factors) are associated with health-related behavior but not in a consistent way across all behaviors. Moreover, the dynamics of each behavior (positive or negative change) is not necessarily determined by the same factors that determine the state of that behavior. We also find that better perceived health insurance coverage is associated with a healthier lifestyle which is not compatible with an ex-ante moral hazard interpretation. Our results provide input to target policies towards elderly individuals in need of lifestyle change. However, further research should be done to identify the causal effect of health insurance on health-related behavior.

Chronic Disease Diagnosis as a Teachable Moment for Health Behavior Changes Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of a new chronic disease diagnosis on substance use (i.e., smoking and drinking), utilization of preventive medical procedures, and physical activity among middle-aged and older adults.

METHOD

Individual-level data came from 1996 to 2010 waves of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Disease diagnosis was ascertained from self-reports of physician-diagnosed diseases. A case-control difference-in-differences approach estimated in logistic regression was applied to test study hypotheses.

RESULTS

After a diagnosis of chronic disease, participants decreased substance use and increased utilization of preventive medical procedures. Physical activity declined after a diagnosis of lung disease, cancer, and stroke.

DISCUSSION

Chronic disease diagnosis may be an important teachable moment that can motivate individuals to adopt multiple risk-reducing health behaviors. Future research needs to elucidate the mechanisms through which disease diagnosis affects behaviors and test the modifying effect of time since diagnosis on intervention effectiveness.

Trajectories and predictors of alcohol consumption over 21 years of mothers׳ reproductive life course

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the patterns of women׳s alcohol consumption over their reproductive life course. This study identifies trajectories of alcohol consumption by mothers over 21 years of their reproductive life course and examines baseline predictors of these trajectories.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a prospective cohort study of 3715 women in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia over 21 years of follow-up. Women׳s alcohol consumption was measured by frequency and quantity of use across the surveys. Potential predictors and confounding variables were assessed at baseline. Group based-trajectory modelling was used to identify typical drinking trajectories over the maternal reproductive life course. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine predictors associated with these trajectories.

RESULTS

Four trajectories of alcohol consumption were indentified for mothers over the 21-year period. These trajectories included abstainers (11.9%), low-stable drinkers (58.0%), moderate-escalating drinkers (25.3%), and heavy-escalating drinkers (4.8%). After adjustment for significant covariates, membership of the abstaining trajectory was predicted by lower family income, being married, and high frequency of church attendance while membership of the heavier-escalating trajectory was associated with women who were not currently married, never went church and had unhealthy lifestyle behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of women׳s alcohol consumption exhibit a high level of stability for abstainers and women who drink at low levels. After the birth of their child, there are some changes in alcohol consumption for the moderate and heavy-escalating alcohol consumption groups. Low risk patterns of consumption are associated with variables which generally reflected a low risk behaviour lifestyle. Intervention programmes should particularly target women engaging in the heavy-escalating alcohol consumption group as this group increase their consumption shortly after the birth of their child. There is a need to understand more about the social and health consequences to mothers and their children of being in the moderate and heavy-escalating drinking trajectory groups.