Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Associated Variables among Older Adults in Spain: A population-based cohort study

Hosanna Soler-Vila,Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo,Luz Mª León-Muñoz,Rosario Ortolá,Esther García-Esquinas

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-46591-0

Abstract

We examined prospective changes in drinking patterns and their associations with socio-behavioral and health status variables in older adults in Spain using data from a prospective cohort of 2,505 individuals (53.3% women) representative of the non-institutionalized population aged >60 years in Spain. Alcohol consumption was assessed at baseline (2008–10) and at follow-up (2012) with a validated diet history. At risk drinking was defined as consuming >14 g of alcohol/day on average or any binge drinking in the last 30 days; lower amounts were considered light drinking. A total of 26.5% of study participants changed their intake during follow-up. Most participants reduced alcohol intake, but 23.3% of men and 8.9% of women went from light to at risk drinking during the study period. Low social connectivity at baseline was linked to at risk drinking for both sexes. However, the observed associations between changes in social connectivity, morbidity, BMI, or dietary habits and changes in drinking patterns differed by sex. We concluded that since about a quarter of older adults in Spain consume more alcohol than recommended, identifying socio-behavioral factors associated with this behavior is key for designing health campaigns targeting excessive alcohol consumption in this vulnerable population.

Highlights

Alcohol consumption among older adults has been drawing increasing public health interest due to a rapidly growing elderly population and substantial evidence of a causal association between alcohol and disease burden[1,2,3] even at substantially lower consumption levels than those previously deemed “safe”[4]
We explore how baseline socio-behavioral and health status variables are prospectively associated with 3-year changes in alcohol consumption
Because aggregate data tend to mask the degree of variation in alcohol consumption over time, we looked at the path participants followed between drinking categories from baseline to follow-up

Summary

Introduction

Alcohol consumption among older adults has been drawing increasing public health interest due to a rapidly growing elderly population and substantial evidence of a causal association between alcohol and disease burden[1,2,3] even at substantially lower consumption levels than those previously deemed “safe”[4]. Due to physiological changes associated with ageing, older adults have a reduced tolerance to alcohol, may suffer ailments potentially aggravated by alcohol, and are likely to take prescriptions that can interact with alcohol For these reasons, older adults are at increased risk of adverse effects from relatively modest levels of intake[5]. After the age of 60 profound life transitions such as onset of chronic disease, overall functional deterioration, loss of spouse and other family members, retirement, and weakening social and familiar ties are more likely to come about. These transitions and changes in social networks both define the social context of drinking and could influence consumption patterns www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Given the gendered social context surrounding alcohol and the unequal distribution of both consumption and of related disease burden by sex[2,7,20], these objectives are addressed for men and women separately

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