Current Drinkers Research Articles

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and child development: Role of ADH1B and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms-The Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The role of polymorphisms in genes regulating alcohol metabolism, particularly those modulating the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the neurodevelopment of offspring, remains inconclusive. Herein, we aimed to determine the involvement of ADH1B and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms in maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the risk of developmental delay in offspring in a Japanese population. We analyzed 1727 mother-child pairs from the Yamanashi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy was determined through a mid-pregnancy questionnaire and categorized into three groups: never-drinkers, those who quit drinking in early pregnancy, and current drinkers. Developmental delays in children were assessed in five domains using the Japanese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (J-ASQ-3) at 3 years of age. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to explore the relationship between maternal drinking status during pregnancy and developmental delays in offspring with respect to maternal ADH1B (rs1229984) or ALDH2 (rs671) gene polymorphisms. Children born to mothers who continued alcohol consumption during pregnancy had a higher risk of delayed communication skills at 3 years of age compared with children born to mothers who did not drink alcohol (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.84-18.38). Analysis by ALDH2 gene polymorphism revealed that alcohol consumption by mothers carrying the wild-type ALDH2 (*1/*1) increased the risk of delayed communication skills at 3 years of age, whereas alcohol consumption by mothers carrying a heterozygotic genotype of ALDH2 (*1/*2) enhanced the risk of developmental delay in all five domains of the J-ASQ-3. The impact of ADH1B gene polymorphism could not be clearly elucidated. Our results suggest that alcohol consumption by pregnant females carrying the deficient variant ALDH2*2 genotype may increase the risk of developmental delay in their offspring.

Convergence of Alcohol Consumption and Dietary Quality in US Adults Who Currently Drink Alcohol: An Analysis of Two Core Risk Factors of Liver Disease

Background/Objectives: Alcohol consumption and poor dietary habits are on the rise in the United States, posing significant challenges to public health due to their contribution to chronic diseases such as liver failure. While associations between alcohol consumption patterns and diet quality have been explored, the relationship between specific alcoholic beverage types and diet quality remains underexamined. This study aims to compare diet quality among consumers of different alcoholic beverage types. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1917 current alcohol drinkers from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who completed a 24 h dietary recall survey. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), with higher scores indicating superior diet quality. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess differences in HEI between consumers of various alcoholic beverage types, using wine-only drinkers as the reference group and controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and metabolic syndrome variables. Results: Beer-only drinkers were more likely to have lower income, higher rates of cigarette smoking, and insufficient physical activity compared to other alcohol consumers. In the fully adjusted multivariable model, beer-only drinkers had an HEI score that was 3.12 points lower than wine-only drinkers. In contrast, liquor/cocktail-only and multiple-type drinkers had similar HEI scores to wine-only drinkers. Conclusions: Beer-only consumption is associated with poorer diet quality among alcohol drinkers. Targeted patient education and public health campaigns may be effective in addressing the combined impact of alcohol consumption and poor diet quality on chronic disease risk.

Association of tricarboxylic acid cycle related-metabolites with hypertension in older adults: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Hypertension is still a common chronic disease worldwide and seriously affects human health. Aim of this study was to investigate the association between tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-related metabolites and hypertension in older adults. A total of 1127 community-dwelling older adults were included in this cross-sectional analysis, of whom 609 were assigned to the hypertension group and 518 to the no-hypertension group. Plasma concentrations of 8 TCA cycle-related metabolites (citrate, cis-aconitate, isocitrate, 2-oxoglutarate, succinate, maleate, fumarate, and malate) were determined by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between these metabolites and hypertension risk. After adjustment for covariates, we found that the increased plasma concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate and malate were significantly associated with hypertension. These two associations remained unchanged after using the false discovery rate (FDR)-adjustment method (both FDR-adjusted P-trend <0.05). In stratified analysis, these two associations were not modified by overweight, physical activity, and current drinking (all P-interaction >0.05). In the multivariate diagnostic model, the inclusion of these two metabolites modestly and significantly improved the diagnosis of hypertension (AUC = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.60-0.67). These results indicated that plasma 2-oxoglutarate and malate might be the candidate metabolic markers of hypertension among older adults. However, further longitudinal and experimental studies are necessary to confirm this finding.

Poor sleep hygiene practice and associated factors among adults with epilepsy attending follow up care at Mettu Karl comprehensive specialized hospitals in Illu Ababora Zone and general hospital in Buno Bedele zone, Southwest Ethiopia’

BackgroundGlobally, sleep disorders are an important global public health problem. Poor sleep hygiene is at the core of chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders. Sleep hygiene practices are effective, practical, and affordable, and have no side effects other than other therapies benefiting patients with epilepsy. However, there is no research regarding sleep hygiene practice and its awareness among people with epilepsy in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess sleep hygiene practice and its factors in patients with epilepsy.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The study included 424 participants selected through systematic random sampling. An interviewer-administered Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) questionnaire was used to collect data.The collected data was analyzed using SPSS Version 25.0. Bi-variable and multi-variable analyses were conducted to identify factors related to poor sleep hygiene.ResultsThe frequency of poor sleep hygiene practice among people with epilepsy was 59.5%. Non-adherence to AED (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.13, 3.23), depression (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.42, 4.21), poor sleep quality (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 3.12, 10.01), anxiety (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.67, 4.82), and current alcohol drinkers (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.13) were associated with poor sleep hygiene practice.Conclusion and recommendationThe perception of sleep hygiene practice among patients with epilepsy was poor. Non-adherence to AED, depression, poor sleep quality, anxiety, and current use of alcohol were associated with poor sleep hygiene practices. Therefore, regular screening, sleep issue management, and expanded mental health support are crucial. Training programs and awareness strategies to improve sleep hygiene are highly recommended. Professionals should incorporate sleep hygiene in epilepsy care.

The relationship between asthma and suggested alcohol dependence and heavy alcohol use in the Cooper Center longitudinal study: The role of depressive symptom severity

BackgroundAsthma appears to be associated with a variety of psychiatric illnesses including depression and alcohol use disorder. The current study examined the relationship between asthma, heavy alcohol intake and suggested alcohol dependence controlling for depressive symptom severity. MethodsData from 33,253 adult patients at the Cooper Clinic who enrolled in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, completed a medical history questionnaire including information on asthma, depressive symptoms and alcohol use were used. The association between lifetime asthma and heavy alcohol intake, while accounting for depressive symptoms (10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CESD)), and demographic variables was examined employing logistic regression with heavy alcohol intake (yes/no) as the outcome. Logistic regression was similarly utilized to examine the association between asthma and suggested alcohol dependence (CAGE scores ≥2: yes/no) among current drinkers (n = 26,028). ResultsMultivariable analysis revealed no significant association between asthma and heavy alcohol consumption with or without controlling for CES-D scores. Asthma was, however, associated with higher odds for suggested alcohol dependence (OR 1.18, CI 1.07, 1.31), which was attenuated but still significant when controlling for CES-D scores. ConclusionAsthma was associated with higher risk for suggested alcohol dependence while current heaving drinking risk was not increased. The suggested drinking findings were slightly less strong when controlling for CES-D scores. The differences between current heavy drinking and CAGE findings might be due to differences in perception of problematic drinking by people with asthma or the timeframe of the assessments (current for drinking, lifetime for CAGE).

Alcohol outlet density and adolescent drinking behaviors in Thailand, 2007-2017: A spatiotemporal mixed model analysis.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between alcohol outlet density and the proportion of alcohol consumption among Thai adolescents. We utilized the alcohol consumption data from the 2007, 2011, and 2017 Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption Survey in Thailand. We analyzed the relationships between alcohol sales license figures and consumption behavior using a spatiotemporal mixed model. Our data had two levels. The upper (provincial) level featured alcohol sales license density (spatial effect), the years of survey (temporal effect), and the social deprivation index. The lower (individual) level included the demographic data of the adolescents. A total of 9,566 Thai adolescents participated in this study, based on surveys conducted in 2007 (n = 4,731), 2011 (n = 3,466), and 2017 (n = 1,369). The density of alcohol sales licenses increased the odds for the one-year current drinker category (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.45), especially in male adolescents (OR = 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.14). Furthermore, it increased the odds for the heavy episodic drinker category for female adolescents (OR = 1.23, 95% CI, 1.05-1.44). Increased alcohol sales licenses are associated with higher alcohol consumption among Thai adolescents. This highlights the need for government organizations to develop and apply strategies to reduce the number of licenses for the sale of alcohol.

The non-linear correlation between the severity of alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms in the Chinese Wa ethnic minority.

The aim of this research was to examine the association between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms in the Wa ethnic minority of China, a population where this relationship has been insufficiently explored. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on a sample of 317 current drinkers from the Wa ethnic minority, a "direct fast-forward" group in Cangyuan County, between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling approach, participants were selected, each of whom exhibited an Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score exceeding 0. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews employing a uniform questionnaire. Quantification of alcohol use was achieved through the application of the AUDIT, while the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 was employed to gauge depressive symptoms. The relationship between the severity of alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms was evaluated using a multivariable logistic regression model. Subsequently, potential non-linear associations were scrutinized through the application of a smoothing plot. The study included 317 current drinkers (196 males [61.83%]; mean age 41.78 ± 12.91 years), of which 94 (29.65%) exhibited comorbid depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusting for confounders, revealed that higher AUDIT scores were significantly associated with an increased probability of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.18, p = 0.008). The risk of depressive symptoms was notably greater in the group with alcohol dependent range in contrast the group at low-risk range (OR = 7.01, 95% CI: 1.66-29.62, p = 0.008). The smoothing plot indicated a J-shaped non-linear relationship with an inflection point at an AUDIT score of 15. To the left of this inflection point, no significant relationship was observed, whereas to the right, a positive correlation emerged (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.11-1.74, p < 0.001). The findings reveal a non-linear relationship between alcohol consumption and the probability of depressive symptoms within the Wa ethnic minority in China, with implications for the development of nuanced and effective treatment strategies tailored to this population.

Alcohol intake and patterns of multi-site musculoskeletal pain in the British Whitehall II study

Abstract Background Patterns of multi-site musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and its relationship with alcohol drinking among white-collar employees and retirees remain unclear compared to blue-collar workers. This study aimed to examine the relationship between alcohol drinking and MSK pain through latent class analysis (LCA) in current and retired white-collar employees. Methods We used the data from the 7th phase (2000-2002, n = 6,967, response rate 71.6%) of the British Whitehall II study, chosen for its availability of MSK items and approximately 1:1 ratio of employees to retirees, allowing for an evaluation of the relationship between alcohol drinking and MSK pain by employment status. LCA was used to distinguish patterns of multi-site MSK pain. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to examine the association between alcohol drinking and the identified pain patterns, with analyses conducted separately for employees and retirees. Results We identified five latent classes for pain (back/cervical: 7.1%, cervical: 28.9%, upper limb: 29.4%, combined LBP/upper limb/cervical: 13.2%, and LBP alone: 21.5%). Increased alcohol intake might be associated with elevated odds of upper limb pain in current drinkers, but this could not be statistically confirmed (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.99-1.09). Employment status may modify the association with a significant interaction found between alcohol intake and retirement (p-value: 0.043). Every 7-unit increase in alcohol intake is associated with 18% and 12% higher odds of pain in LBP/UBP/cervical and upper limbs, respectively (95% CI: 1.02-1.37; 1.02-1.23). Conclusions Increased alcohol intake was associated with pain patterns only among retired white-collar employees but not the current ones. Interventions on alcohol consumption could help confirm if, reducing alcohol intake or avoiding hazardous drinking, for white-collar retirees prevents not only upper limb pain but also more complex pain patterns. Key messages • Musculoskeletal pain in white-collar employees and retirees contributes to the cervical and upper extremities, differing from low back/neck pain studies among general or blue-collar workers. • The association between alcohol drinking and pain patterns may differ across employment status. Reducing alcohol intake might be advised to retired drinkers for preventing multi-site pain.

Higher systolic blood pressure in left not right upper limb is associated with all-cause mortality risk in a community-based population

Abstract Background and Purpose Previous studies have shown that elevated inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference (SBPD) is a valuable indicator for assessing the risk of all-cause mortality. However, no research currently reports that the different impact of higher SBP in which upper limb on all-cause mortality risk. This study investigates which side of the upper limbs has a higher SBP that is more associated with all-cause mortality risk in a community population. Methods The subjects were from the a Atherosclerosis Cohort of the Department of Cardiology of our University First Hospital from 2012 to 2021, and those with missing data of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and a history of myocardial infarction or stroke in the baseline survey were excluded. The endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality. SBPD was defined as the difference between the systolic blood pressure of the right arm minus the systolic blood pressure of the left arm by the noninvasive arteriosclerosis detection device BP-203RPEIII (Omron, Japan). SBPD was categorized into four groups: 0-10 mmHg (right arm higher &amp;lt;10mmHg), ≥ 10 mmHg (right arm higher ≥ 10 mmHg ), -10 to &amp;lt; 0 mmHg (left arm higher ≤10 mmHg), and &amp;lt; -10 mmHg (left higher &amp;gt; 10mmHg). The relationship between SBPD and all-cause mortality risk was determined by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression after adjusting for covariates (age, body mass index, gender, current smoking, current drinking, estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, hypoglycemic treatment, total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid-lowering treatment, and antihypertensive treatment). Results Totally, 8628 participants were included, with a mean age of 56.58 ± 8.97 years old, and 64.51% (5566) were female. Among them, 380 (4.40%) had an SBPD ≥ 10 mmHg, and 409 (4.74%) had an SBPD &amp;lt; -10 mmHg. During a median follow-up of 9.87 years, 442 cases of all-cause mortality (5.19%) occurred. The Kaplan-Meier curve suggested that the greater the difference in SBPD, the higher the cumulative risk of all-cause mortality. The Log-rank test showed a significant statistical difference (P= 0.0115). Compared to right arm higher &amp;lt;10mmHg group, the risk of all-cause mortality was not significantly elevated in right arm higher ≥ 10 mmHg (adjusted HR=1.17, 95% CI: 0.74-1.84, P=0.507) or left arm higher ≤10 mmHg group (adjusted HR=0.90, 95%CI: 0.74-1.11, P=0.329). However, the risk of all-cause mortality significantly increased by 59% in left higher &amp;gt; 10mmHg Group (adjusted HR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.10-2.30, P=0.013). The results remained significant after adjusting for peripheral right arm SBP (adjusted HR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.08-2.24, P=0.018). Conclusion This study found that a higher SBP in the left arm is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in a Beijing community-based population, and they should be monitored and intervened more intensively.Hazard Ratios for all-cause mortalitySurvival curves for SBPD groups

Patterns of alcohol use in Belgium, 2013-2020

Abstract Despite numerous efforts worldwide to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol, its impact on health remains significant, contributing significantly to the loss of healthy life years. In Belgium, alcohol use is still a major public health concern, ranking among the highest in alcohol consumption across Europe. This study aims to use available nationally representative data to estimate and evaluate the time trends of alcohol use patterns in Belgium from 2013 to 2018. We used repeated cross-sectional survey data from the Belgian Health Interview Survey (BHIS), which includes self-reported alcohol use and sociodemographic data, to create a time series of annual consumption from 2013 to 2018. This included current and former drinkers, and lifetime abstainers by year, sex, region, and age groups. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model, using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation to create the time series and forecast trends for 2020. In Belgium, the prevalence of current drinking remained at a similar level of 80% from 2013 to 2020, with similar rates observed in the Flemish (FL) and Walloon (WA) regions. However, the Brussels-Capital region (BR) had a slightly lower prevalence of 70%. Trends remained relatively stable across all regions during this period. The national level of former drinkers increased from 5% in 2013 to 8% in 2020, with BR and FL showing similar increases, while WA experienced a decline. Abstainer rates rose from 15% in 2013 to 19% in 2020 nationally, with varying increases in each region. Specifically, abstainer rates in FL increased from 13% to 17% and in WA from 14% to 20%, while BR saw an increase from 19% to 22%. Overall, declining trends were evident, with men exhibiting higher prevalence rates across all categories. Time trends from the BHIS reveal consistent and high use of alcohol in Belgium over 7 years, emphasizing the ongoing public health challenge. Urgent policy interventions are needed to reduce the impact of alcohol on health Key messages • Alcohol use in Belgium is still a pressing public health issue, with high prevalence rates of current drinking in the population. Different patterns of alcohol use can be seen between regions. • Understanding the role of alcohol on population health as an attributable burden can improve health monitoring.

Oral health and chronic kidney disease: Findings from a descriptive survey in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, characterized by a progressive and irreversible decline in renal functions, and affecting up to 22.3% of Nigerians. Oral diseases are increasingly recognized to have a bidirectional relationship with CKD, contributing to systemic inflammation, infections, protein-energy wasting, and atherosclerotic complications. Given this interconnectedness, we aimed to explore the relationship between CKD and oral conditions among LASUTH patients to better understand and address these co-occurring health issues. Methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted in the nephrology unit of LASUTH. Patients aged &gt;20 years with a diagnosis of CKD were enlisted and a validated questionnaire with the modified WHO oral health status proforma was utilized to record clinical data: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (EGFR), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Creatinine and Urinalysis from medical records and oral examination findings, Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Gingival Index (GI), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment needs (CPITN), oral malodour, and Oral lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with adjustments for covariates like age, alcohol use, and BMI to determine the association between oral diseases and CKD. The significance level (p) was set at 0.05, with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Results: A total of 200 patients at different stages of CKD were included. The age range was 22–83 years. The majority were aged 31-60 years (mean age 55.22 ± 14.35 years); 69% were males; 7% were current smokers while 12% currently drank alcohol; 27% had eGFR&lt; 15 mL/min/1.73m2 (ESRD); 27% had Creatinine values &gt;1.3mg/dl; prevalence of Gingivitis was 72%; periodontitis was 14% (CPI score ≥3: Pocket depth of ≥4 mm); and poor OHI was 22%. The commonest oral lesions were white lesions 2%, candidiasis 4.5%, hyperpigmentation 22%, oral ulcers 5%, hemorrhagic lesions 12.5%, and Oral malodor 74.5%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significantly increased odds of ESRD among uneducated respondents (OR 1.194; CI: 0.832-1.713); those &gt;60years (OR: 1.129; CI:0.436-2.923); current alcohol drinkers (OR:1.125; CI: 0.281-4.409); and smokers (OR:2.328; CI: 0.27-20.289). The odds of low stimulated saliva flow rate (OR: 1.181; CI:0.768-4.512), oral malodor (OR:1.093; CI: 0.763-1.565), and periodontal disease (OR: 1.242; CI: 0.698-2.209) were also significantly higher among those with ESRD. Conclusion: Individuals with CKD and ESRD may have a higher prevalence of oral diseases and conditions. There were significantly increased odds of ESRD among uneducated respondents, those over 60, current alcohol consumers, and smokers. Additionally, the odds of low stimulated saliva flow rate, oral malodor, and periodontal disease was also significantly higher among those with ESRD. This relationship may also be bidirectional, highlighting the need for appropriate oral self-care and regular dental-care utilization in patients with renal disease. The findings underscore the need for integrated healthcare approaches that consider both oral and renal health, providing a foundation for further research and targeted interventions.

Reasons for not seeking alcohol treatment among a sample of Florida adults with HIV who perceived the need for treatment

BackgroundA minority of people who need alcohol treatment receive it. Unhealthy alcohol use is common among people with HIV (PWH) and can lead to negative health outcomes. The aims of this multi-methods study are to (1) quantitatively describe the prevalence, psychosocial characteristics, and demographic traits of a sample of PWH currently receiving HIV care in Florida who had a self-reported need for alcohol treatment but did not seek care and (2) qualitatively explore reasons why PWH did not seek treatment.MethodsPWH enrolled in the Florida Cohort Study between October 2020 and February 2023 who had drinking history (N = 487) completed a cross-sectional survey that asked if there was a time when they recognized they needed help for their drinking but did not seek it. If yes, they were asked an open-ended follow-up question about reasons why they did not seek care. Demographic and behavioral differences between those who did and did not endorse a time when they needed alcohol treatment were determined using multivariable logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed with thematic analysis based in the Social-Ecological Model to assess reasons for not seeking care at the individual, social, and systems levels.ResultsA quarter of PWH (n = 129) with lifetime drinking indicated a time they needed care but did not seek it. Patients who endorsed a time where they perceived the need for treatment but did not seek it were more likely to endorse current at-risk drinking and a history of ever trying to reduce their drinking or formally seek professional alcohol treatment. The most common reasons participants did not seek care were individual level factors and included shame, denial, fear, wanting to do it on their own, not feeling ready, and not wanting to seek care.ConclusionsPWH experienced barriers largely at the individual level that prevented them from seeking alcohol treatment despite a recognized need, though many eventually sought care. Providers and public health professionals should consider helping to address various barriers, particularly internal barriers, when designing interventions to help PWH seek care.

Abstract A094: Association between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survival, tobacco use, and alcohol use, 2010-2021

Abstract The number of survivors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the United States is expected to rise in coming years due to higher quality and more accessible cancer care, diminished smoking and alcohol consumption rates, and increased frequency of less aggressive human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancers. In developed nations, about 80% of HNSCC patients are current smokers, recent quitters (within the past year), and former smokers. About 39% of HNSCC patients living in the United States say that they are current drinkers, drinkers who exceed moderate levels, and binge drinkers. Of all HNSCC cases, between 72% and 80% are associated with specifically tobacco use, alcohol use, or the two. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption have been shown to be predictive for HNSCC diagnosis and survival. However, the underlying trends and social determinants linking HNSCC survival to tobacco use and alcohol consumption are poorly understood. To reach a better understanding, data will be sourced from the National Health Interview Survey from 2010 to 2021, adjusted for age and other confounders, and then analyzed with Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. The results will inform a deeper understanding of the connections between HNSCC survival and tobacco and alcohol use and can point to new approaches and treatment targets for patient care. Citation Format: Rashad Rahman, Meng Chen, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. Association between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survival, tobacco use, and alcohol use, 2010-2021 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A094.

Drinking motives link positive and negative life events to problematic alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study.

Stressful life events are associated with problematic drinking, and alcohol misuse has been exacerbated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While coping motives may account for this association, positive life events (PLEs) and enhancement motives are understudied. To address these gaps, we examined the associations of history of alcohol use disorder (AUD), negative life events (NLEs), and PLEs with problematic alcohol use and tested coping and enhancement motives as mediators. The sample included baseline and follow-up data from 241 participants enrolled in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Endorsements of past year PLEs and NLEs and their associations with problematic alcohol use were examined. Among the 202 current drinkers, path analyses tested mediational pathways via coping and enhancement motives. The top two PLEs were change in work conditions (21.6%) and taking a vacation (20.3%). The top two NLEs were change in social activities (36.5%) and major change in recreation (26.6%). Individuals with a history of AUD and those who experienced more NLEs reported higher coping and enhancement motives, which were associated with higher problematic alcohol use. Individuals who experienced more PLEs reported lower coping motives, which was associated with lower problematic alcohol use. Besides coping motives, enhancement motives were also associated with pandemic problematic alcohol use. Alcohol interventions targeting reward- and relief-driven drinking patterns may be beneficial to individuals with a history of AUD and those who experienced more NLEs. More research is needed to study PLEs which may help inform the development of strength-based alcohol interventions.

Phosphatidylethanol as an outcome measure in treatment aimed at controlled drinking.

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a specific marker of alcohol intake, used both as a screening method for hazardous use and as an outcome measure in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, what cut-off values to apply for hazardous use in a treatment setting is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the correlation between PEth and self-reported drinking and identify the optimal cut-off for hazardous use, for patients with AUD and a stated goal of controlled drinking. We used data from a randomized controlled trial of two different psychological treatments aiming for controlled drinking, conducted within specialized addiction care in Stockholm, Sweden. A total of 181 patients left samples that could be included in the current analysis. Outcomes were measured at five different time points over 2years of follow-up. PEth 16:0/18:1 values were correlated with subjective reports of recent drinking based on the Timeline Follow-Back Method. The correlation between PEth and self-reported alcohol intake increased significantly over time, with the weakest correlation found at baseline (Spearman's ρ = 0.42) and the strongest at the 104-week follow-up (ρ = 0.69). When used to indicate hazardous drinking according to Swedish guidelines (≥10units per week), receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed PEth ≥ 0.22μmol/l to be the optimal cut-off. PEth is a useful outcome measure that can be used to validate subjective reports of current drinking. In a treatment setting aimed at controlled drinking, the accuracy of patients' self-report measures seems to improve over time. In this context, a PEth value of ≥0.22μmol/l is a sensitive and specific indicator of hazardous drinking.

Bidirectional Mendelian randomization explores the causal relationship between dietary habits and rheumatoid arthritis.

Epidemiological and other studies have shown that the occurrence and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are closely related to diet. To further explore the causal association between dietary habits and RA, we performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The dataset related to dietary habits is from genome-wide association studies, including 143 dietary habits. The dataset of RA is from the FinnGen database. Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, simple mode, weighted median, and weighted mode were used for the 2-sample, 2-way MR analysis. At the same time, a variety of pleiotropic and heterogeneity tests were used to ensure the accuracy of the results. IVW results show that among current drinkers (drinks usually with meals yes + it varies vs no) was positively correlated with RA (β, 0.563 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.286-0.840]; P = 6.7 × 10-5). Spread type (low fat spread vs any other) was negatively correlated with RA (β, -2.536 [95% CI, -3.725 to -1.346]; P = 2.9 × 10-5). In addition, the reverse MR results showed that RA was positively correlated with milk type (skimmed vs any other; β, 0.006 [95% CI, 0.000-0.011]; P = 4.5 × 10-2). RA was positively correlated with spread type (tub margarine vs never; β, 0.016 [95% CI, 0.002-0.029]; P = 2.5 × 10-2). The results of pleiotropy and heterogeneity tests showed that there was no pleiotropy (P > .05) in the obtained results. The analysis results of MR-Egger, simple mode, weighted median, and weighted mode are consistent with our IVW results. This study reveals a potential association between specific dietary habits and RA. Among current drinkers (drinks usually with meals yes + it varies vs no) was positively correlated with RA. Spread type (low fat spread vs any other) was negatively correlated with RA. RA was positively correlated with milk type (skimmed vs any other) and spread type (tub margarine vs never).

The associations of cardiovascular and lifestyle factors with mortality from chronic kidney disease as the underlying cause: the JACC study.

This study investigated conventional cardiovascular and lifestyle risk factors affecting mortality from chronic kidney disease as the underlying cause in the general Japanese population. We conducted an 18.8-year follow-up study of 44,792 men and 61,522 women aged 40-79 from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk between 1986 and 1990. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the association between risk factors and mortality from chronic kidney disease. During the follow-up period, 373 participants (185 men and 188 women) died from chronic kidney disease. A body mass index of ≥27 kg/m2 (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.00 [1.19-3.36] for men and 1.91 [1.19-3.07] for women, compared with 23.0-24.9 kg/m2), a history of hypertension (2.32 [1.67-3.22] for men and 2.01 [1.44-2.81] for women) and a history of diabetes mellitus (5.21 [3.68-7.37] for men and 7.10 [4.93-10.24] for women) were associated with an increased risk of mortality from chronic kidney disease in both sexes. In men, smoking was also associated with an increased risk (1.91 [1.25-2.90]), while current drinking (0.58 [0.34-0.98] for <23 g/day, 0.48 [0.29-0.80] for 23-45 g/day and 0.53 [0.32-0.86] for ≥46 g/day) and exercising ≥5 hours/week (0.42 [0.18-0.96]) were associated with a lower risk. Similar but non-significant associations for smoking and drinking were observed in women. In addition to a history of hypertension and a history of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, smoking status, drinking status, and exercise habits were associated with the risk of mortality from chronic kidney disease.

Association between alcohol consumption and incidence of dementia in current drinkers: linear and non-linear mendelian randomization analysis

Previous conventional epidemiological studies found a J-shape relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia, but this result was subject to confounding biases and reverse causation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential linear or non-linear causal association between alcohol consumption and the incident risk of dementia in current drinkers. This study used data from the UK Biobank to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk. 313,958 White British current drinkers, who were free of dementia during 2006-2010, were followed up until 2021. Alcohol consumption was self-reported and calculated according to the National Health Service guideline. The primary outcome was all-cause dementia identified through hospital and mortality records. We used multivariable Cox models with restricted cubic splines for conventional analysis and both non-linear and linear Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to assess causal relationships, employing a genetic score based on 95 SNPs identified from a meta-genome-wide association study of 941,280 people from Europe. 313,958 current drinkers consumed an average of 13.6 [IQR: 7.1-25.2] units/week alcohol (men averaged 20.2 [11.1-33.9] units/week and women 9.5 [5.3-16.7] units/week). During a mean follow-up of 13.2 years, 5394 (1.7%) developed dementia. Multivariable Cox model with restricted cubic spline functions identified a J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk, with the lowest risk at 12.2 units/week. The non-linear MR failed to identify a significant non-linear causal relationship (p=0.45). Both individual-level (HR: 2.22 95%CI [1.06-4.66]) and summary-level (1.89 [1.53-2.32]) linear MR analyses indicated that higher genetically predicted alcohol consumption increased dementia risk. This study identified a positive linear causal relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia among current drinkers. The J-shaped association found in conventional epidemiological analysis was not supported by non-linear MR analyses. Our findings suggested that there was no safe level of alcohol consumption for dementia. The Shenzhen Science and Technology Program and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Ecological Momentary Assessment of Alcohol Marketing Exposure, Alcohol Use, and Purchases Among University Students: Prospective Cohort Study.

The relationships between alcohol marketing exposure, alcohol use, and purchase have been widely studied. However, prospective studies examining the causal relationships in real-world settings using mobile health tools are limited. We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine both the within-person- and between-person-level effects of alcohol marketing exposure on any alcohol use, amount of alcohol use, any alcohol purchase, and frequency of alcohol purchase among university students. From January to June 2020, we conducted a prospective cohort study via EMA among university students in Hong Kong who reported current drinking. Over 14 consecutive days, each participant completed 5 fixed-interval, signal-contingent EMAs daily via a smartphone app. Each EMA asked about the number and types of alcohol marketing exposures, the amount and types of alcohol used, and whether any alcohol was purchased, all within the past 3 hours. We used 2-part models, including multilevel logistic regressions and multilevel gamma regressions, to examine if the number of alcohol marketing exposure was associated with subsequent alcohol use and alcohol purchase. A total of 49 students participated, with 33% (16/49) being male. The mean age was 22.6 (SD 2.6) years. They completed 2360 EMAs (completion rate: 2360/3430, 68.8%). Participants reported exposure to alcohol marketing in 5.9% (140/2360), alcohol use in 6.1% (145/2360), and alcohol purchase in 2.4% (56/2360) of all the EMAs. At the between-person level, exposure to more alcohol marketing predicted a higher likelihood of alcohol use (adjusted odd ratio [AOR]=3.51, 95% CI 1.29-9.54) and a higher likelihood of alcohol purchase (AOR=4.59, 95% CI 1.46-14.49) the following day. Exposure to more alcohol marketing did not increase the amount of alcohol use or frequency of alcohol purchases the following day in participants who used or purchased alcohol. At the within-person level, exposure to more alcohol marketing was not associated with a higher likelihood of alcohol use, amount of alcohol use, higher likelihood of alcohol purchase, or frequency of alcohol purchases the following day (all Ps>.05). Each additional exposure to alcohol marketing within 1 week predicted an increase of 0.85 alcoholic drinks consumed in the following week (adjusted B=0.85, 95% CI 0.09-1.61). On days of reporting alcohol use, the 3 measures for alcohol marketing receptivity were not associated with more alcohol use or purchase (all Ps>.05). By using EMA, we provided the first evidence for the effect of alcohol marketing exposure on initiating alcohol use and purchase in current-drinking university students. Our findings provide evidence of the regulation of alcohol marketing for the reduction of alcohol use and purchase among young adults.

Lifestyle factors, physical health, and life satisfaction under different changes in depressive symptoms among Chinese community-dwelling older adults: A longitudinal analysis.

The study aims to investigate the long-term impact of lifestyle-related factors and physical health on life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the analytic sample of this study included 1,068 older adults who had participated in the surveys in both 2011 and 2018. Multivariate regression was employed to analyze both cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between lifestyle-related factors, physical health, and subjective well-being - specifically depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Additionally, the model tested how these factors correlate with life satisfaction across different groups of depressive symptom changes among older adults, categorized as not at risk of depression, intermittent depression, and chronic depression. Multimorbidity was significantly related to baseline and follow-up depressive risk in older adults. Shorter sleep duration was associated with baseline depression risk. Current alcohol drinkers reported significantly more severe depressive symptoms than non-drinkers. At baseline, current smokers were more likely to have a lower degree of life satisfaction than nonsmokers. Among older adults with chronic depression at the 7-year follow-up, former smokers tended to have lower life satisfaction than nonsmokers. Our findings identified drinking alcohol and having a shorter sleep duration as modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors for late-life depression and smoking as a detrimental factor for life satisfaction in older Chinese adults. Multimorbidity was a significant predictor of more depressive symptoms. Our findings have implications for future psychosocial interventions that target the alleviation of depressive symptoms and the promotion of life satisfaction in older Chinese people based on their different long-term mental and physical health conditions.