Patterns of alcohol use in an elderly sample enrolled in the Family Health Strategy program in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil

A Systematic Review on Alcohol Consumption among Non-Religious and Religious Adults

Background: Research has suggested that religiosity is a protective factor in alcohol use, but this is an area that could be further explored. Objective: To undertake a systematic review of the literature on drinking patterns and their relationship with religiosity and non-religiosity in adult populations. Methods: We searched for relevant studies using the PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, and Psych-INFO databases. This review included only studies of people aged 18 and over which had a non-religious group as a comparison measure. Results: Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. The present review showed that religious people tend to have lower alcohol consumption compared to those with no religion. However, this difference appears only when religions are analyzed together without differentiating between religious affiliations (Catholicism, Buddhism, Evangelicalism, etc.). Some religious affiliations, such as Buddhism, Catholicism and Lutheranism, appear to be risk factors for alcohol consumption. Definitions of risk consumption showed high heterogeneity, ranging from eight to 21 or more doses per week, a difference of 13 doses of alcohol between studies. Conclusions: The present review showed that religious people tend to have lower alcohol consumption compared to non-religious people. However, the results are contradictory when religious affiliations are analyzed separately and compared with non-religious participants. Adequately understanding which dimensions of religiosity and non-religiosity (e.g., group processes, engagement, meaning, rules of behavior) are protective in adulthood is fundamental to the construction of more effective interventions in this age group.

A systematic review of self-report measures used in epidemiological studies to assess alcohol consumption among older adults

Background

There is a lack of standardization regarding how to assess and categorize alcohol intake in older adults. The aim of this study was to systematically review methods used in epidemiological studies to define drinking patterns and measure alcohol consumption among older adults.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases for studies published from January 2009 to April 2021. Studies were included if they were observational studies with a quantitative design; the mean age of the participants was ≥ 65 years; questionnaires, screening tools, or diagnostic tools were used to define alcohol consumption; and alcohol consumption was self-reported.

Results

Of 492 studies considered, 105 were included. Among the 105 studies, we detected 19 different drinking patterns, and each drinking pattern had a wide range of definitions. The drinking patterns abstaining from alcohol, current drinking, and risk drinking had seven, 12 and 21 diverse definitions, respectively. The most used questionnaire and screening tools were the quantity-frequency questionnaire, with a recall period of 12 months, and the full and short versions of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, respectively.

Conclusion

No consensus was found regarding methods used to assess, define, and measure alcohol consumption in older adults. Identical assessments and definitions must be developed to make valid comparisons of alcohol consumption in older adults. We recommend that alcohol surveys for older adults define the following drinking patterns: lifetime abstainers, former drinkers, current drinkers, risk drinking, and heavy episodic drinking. Standardized and valid definitions of risk drinking, and heavy episodic drinking should be developed. The expanded quantity-frequency questionnaire including three questions focused on drinking frequency, drinking volume, and heavy episodic drinking, with a recall period of 12 months, could be used.

PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ABUSE AND LIKELY DEPENDENCE OF ALCOHOL AMONG ELDERLY

ABSTRACT Objective: verify the prevalence of abuse and probable alcohol dependence in the elderly; describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the elderly; and verify the factors associated with alcohol abuse and probable dependence in the elderly. Method: cross-sectional study, observational, domiciliary survey type, conducted with 614 elderly people living in the urban area of the city of Uberaba, Brazil. The Mini Mental State Examination, sociodemographic instrument, Older Americans Resources and Services Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test - Geriatric Version were used. Statistical analysis was performed in the Statiscal Package for Social Sciences. Results: the prevalence of abuse and probable alcohol dependence was 26.5%. Among the elderly with abuse and probable dependence on alcohol, there was predominance of males, 60 |- 70 years old, who lived with a spouse or partner, had 1 |- 5 years of schooling, individual monthly income from 1 -| 3 minimum wages, five or more morbidities and no indication of depressive symptoms. Abuse and probable alcohol dependence were associated with males and the presence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: the study reinforces the need to identify early abuse and probable alcohol dependence in the elderly and to invest in health action strategies for the purpose of health promotion, disease prevention and rehabilitation of the elderly.