Current Drinkers Research Articles

Disparities in Smoking and Heavy Drinking Behaviors by Disability Status and Age of Disability Onset: Secondary Analysis of National Health Interview Survey Data.

People with childhood-onset disabilities are living into adulthood, and the prevalence of smoking and illicit drug use among adults with disabilities is high. We evaluated the relationship between disability status and age of disability onset, current cigarette smoking status, and heavy alcohol drinking. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a US survey on illness and disability. Among 2020 NHIS participants aged 22-80 years (n = 28 225), we compared self-reported prevalence of current cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol drinking among those with and without disabilities and among those with childhood- versus adult-onset disabilities. We used adjusted logistic regression analysis to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of current smoking and heavy alcohol drinking based on disability status and age of disability onset. Compared with adults without disabilities, adults with disabilities were significantly more likely to report current smoking (23.5% vs 11.2%; P < .001) and significantly less likely to report heavy alcohol drinking (5.3% vs 7.4%; P = .001). The prevalence of these behaviors did not vary significantly by age of disability onset. In adjusted logistic regression models, adults with disabilities had significantly higher odds of current smoking (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.53-2.03) and similar odds of heavy alcohol drinking (AOR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65-1.04) compared with adults without disabilities. The odds of these health behaviors did not vary significantly by age of disability onset. Adults with disabilities overall may be at high risk for these unhealthy behaviors, particularly smoking, regardless of age of disability onset. Routine screening and cessation counseling related to smoking and unhealthy alcohol use are important for all people with disabilities.

GWAS of Folate Metabolism With Gene-environment Interaction Analysis Revealed the Possible Role of Lifestyles in the Control of Blood Folate Metabolites in Japanese: The J-MICC Study.

The present genome-wide association study (GWAS) aimed to reveal the genetic loci associated with folate metabolites, as well as to detect related gene-environment interactions in Japanese. We conducted the GWAS of plasma homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid (FA), and vitamin B12 (VB12) levels in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study participants who joined from 2005 to 2012, and also estimated gene-environment interactions. In the replication phase, we used data from the Yakumo Study conducted in 2009. In the discovery phase, data of 2,263 participants from four independent study sites of the J-MICC Study were analyzed. In the replication phase, data of 573 participants from the Yakumo Study were analyzed. For Hcy, MTHFR locus on chr 1, NOX4 on chr 11, CHMP1A on chr 16, and DPEP1 on chr 16 reached genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8). MTHFR also associated with FA, and FUT2 on chr 19 associated with VB12. We investigated gene-environment interactions in both studies and found significant interactions between MTHFR C677T and ever drinking, current drinking, and physical activity >33% on Hcy (β = 0.039, 0.038 and -0.054, P = 0.018, 0.021 and <0.001, respectively) and the interaction of MTHFR C677T with ever drinking on FA (β = 0.033, P = 0.048). The present GWAS revealed the folate metabolism-associated genetic loci and gene-environment interactions with drinking and physical activity in Japanese, suggesting the possibility of future personalized cardiovascular disease prevention.

Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Erectile Dysfunction in Japanese Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Socioeconomic status is a risk factor for poor disease prognosis. No studies of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have investigated the association between socioeconomic status and erectile dysfunction (ED), although UC is independently positively associated with ED. Therefore, the purpose of this survey to evaluate this issue in Japanese patients with UC. The study enrolled 165 patients with UC. Education status (low, middle, high) and household income (low, middle, high) were classified in three groups using self-administered surveys. The information regarding the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The definition of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was SHIM score <17 and SHIM score <8, respectively. The prevalence of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was 64.9% and 47.9%, respectively. In crude analysis, household income was inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED. After adjustment for age, current drinking, current smoking, exercise habit, body mass index, mucosal healing, and duration of UC, high household income was independently and inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.05, 0.93], p for trend = .038) and severe ED (adjusted OR 0.26, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85], p for trend = .024). In contrast, no association between education status and ED was found. In conclusion, household income was independently and inversely associated with ED in Japanese UC patients.

Secondhand harms from cannabis use: Findings from Washington State, United States.

There are few studies on harms attributed to others' cannabis use. We assessed individual- and contextual-level correlates of secondhand harms from cannabis use and considered whether cannabis legalization support, along with cannabis user status, predicted such harms. Data were from five repeated cross-sectional, state-representative telephone surveys of Washington State residents ages 18 and over, years 2014-2016. For four surveys, outcome variables were past 12-month reports of experiencing any of five harms (family, traffic-related, vandalism, physical or financial), and in 2016 only, three harm types separately: 1) harassment, 2) safety-related (traffic, vandalism, physical), 3) family or financial, attributed to another's cannabis use. All models included a three-category typology comprised of participants' own cannabis use and whether they supported cannabis use legalization (user supporter, non-user non-supporter, non-user supporter). We estimated logistic regression models for the full sample and by gender, adjusting for individual- and Census tract-level covariates. Compared to non-cannabis-users supporting legalization, nonusers who did not support legalization reported significantly greater odds of perceiving secondhand cannabis harms. Cannabis users supporting legalization did not differ from nonuser supporters. Predictors of reported harms also differed by gender. While current drinkers had lower odds of reporting any harm from others' cannabis use overall, heavy drinking women but not men reported greater odds of any cannabis secondhand harm. Augmenting research on individual harms associated with cannabis use by including secondhand impacts such as social and family problems, along with safety risks, provides a more comprehensive picture of the effects of cannabis use.

Binge drinking associated with mean temperature: a cross-sectional study among Mexican adults living in cities

BackgroundThe association between environmental temperature and alcohol consumption has not been widely explored despite the potential that increasing temperatures could promote the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the alcohol-related burden of disease. We aimed to explore the association between temperature and binge drinking in Mexican adults from urban cities, overall, and by alcoholic beverage type.MethodsData on 10,552 adults ≥ 18 years was obtained from the 2016 National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption. The mean annual temperature at the municipality was obtained from the Mexican National Weather Service using monthly temperatures from 2015 to 2016. We analyzed binge drinking for all alcoholic beverages in the last year and by type of alcohol as beer, liquor, wine, and coolers. Associations between mean temperature over the past year and binge drinking over the past year among current drinkers were estimated using multilevel Poisson models with robust standard errors adjusted for age, sex, education level, marital status, and household socioeconomic status, with a fixed effect by region.ResultsWe observed a non-significant increase in the prevalence of binge drinking for every difference of 1 °C between municipalities of the same region. By alcohol type, a 1 °C increase in mean annual temperature across municipalities of the same region increased the prevalence of beer binge drinking in the past year by 0.9% (PR = 1.009, 95%CI 1.005, 1.013) among beer consumers and the prevalence of coolers’ binge drinking by 3.0% (PR = 1.030, 95%CI 1.003, 1.057) in coolers consumers. We observed non-significant results for liquor binge drinking (PR = 1.047, 95%CI 0.994, 1.102) and wine binge drinking (PR = 1.047, 95% 0.944, 1.161).ConclusionPeople living in municipalities with higher temperatures reported a higher beer binge drinking in Mexican cities. This could account for 196,000 cases of beer binge drinking in 2016. The context of each country needs to be considered when generalizing these findings, and they need to be further explored with longitudinal data as there might be implications for climate change. If our findings are confirmed given the forecasted rising temperatures, we could expect an increase in binge drinking and therefore, in the alcohol burden of disease.

Beer taxes associate with lower alcohol and cigarette use; cigarette taxes associate with lower cigarette but higher alcohol use

ABSTRACT Background: There is a yet unmet opportunity to utilize data on taxes and individual behaviors to yield insight for analyzing studies involving alcohol and cigarette use. Objectives: To inform the direction and strength of their mutual associations by leveraging the fact that taxation can affect individual consumption, but individual consumption cannot affect taxation. Methods: We linked state-level data on cigarette and beer taxes in 2009–2020 with individual-level data on self-reported current cigarette and alcohol use from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is representative of the population of each state in the United States. We constructed linear and logistic models to examine associations between a $1 increase in cigarette taxes per pack and a $1 increase in beer taxes per gallon and self-reported cigarette use and alcohol consumption (assessed as any current intake, average drinks/day, heavy drinking, and binge drinking), adjusting for survey year and individual characteristics. Results: Among 2,968,839,352 respondents (49% male), a $1 increase in beer taxes was associated with .003 (95% confidence interval [CI] −.013, .008) fewer drinks/day and lower odds of any drinking (odds ratio [OR] = .81 95%CI .80, .83), heavy drinking (OR = .96 95%CI .93, .99), binge drinking (OR = .82 95%CI .80, .83), and smoking (OR = .98 95%CI .96, 1.00). In contrast, a $1 increase in cigarette taxes was associated with lower odds of smoking (OR = .94 95%CI .94, .95) but .007 (95%CI .005, .010) more drinks/day, and higher odds of any drinking (OR = 1.10 95%CI 1.10, 1.11), heavy drinking (OR = 1.02 95%CI 1.01, 1.02), and binge drinking (OR = .82 95%CI .80, .83). Conclusion: Higher beer taxes were associated with lower odds of drinking and smoking, but higher cigarette taxes were associated with lower odds of smoking and higher alcohol consumption. These results suggest that alcohol intake may be a determinant of cigarette use rather than cigarette use as a determinant of alcohol intake.

Effects of long-term X-ray exposure on CBC among radiological department staff in Sulaimani city

ObjectivesIonizing rays used in radiology devices are believed to affect the body tissues of radiology department employees. This study was aimed at comparing the effects of long-term exposure to X-rays on the blood cells of staff working in the radiology departments of several hospitals in the Sulaimani City/Kurdistan region government. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from 2021 to 2022 on 250 employees—including radiologists, radiographers, and other medical staff such as physicians or nurses—in the radiology departments of hospitals in the city of Sulaimani, Kurdistan region government. Data were collected with a questionnaire completed by the participants after verbal consent was provided. Blood samples were collected from 250 radiology staff and sent to a laboratory for measurement of blood parameters. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 26 software, and relationships in the data were investigated with descriptive statistical tests, Student's t test, and ANOVA. ResultsMost male participants were radiographers with a diploma degree. A statistically significant difference in RBC, HCT %, MCV, and PCT blood parameters was observed between sexes. Moreover, statistically significant differences were observed in RDW-CV and RDW-SD between occupational groups; in mean WBC and lymphocytes among staff who were current, never, or former smokers; and in mean WBC among employees who were current, never, or former drinkers (p < 0.01). ConclusionBlood parameters such as RDW-CV and RDW-SD were concluded to be affected by job type and X-ray exposure duration.

The association between different physical activity (PA) patterns and cardiometabolic index (CMI) in US adult population from NHANES (2007–2016)

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is widely recommended for preventing and combating obesity, but the most effective PA pattern for treating obesity remains unclear. Cardiometabolic index (CMI), derived from waist height ratio and triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio, is a novel indicator for evaluating obesity. However, the relationship between different PA patterns and CMI remains unelucidated. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the association between different PA patterns and CMI in U.S. adults. MethodsParticipants with complete information in CMI, PA patterns, and other covariates in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (2007–2016) were included in this study. Multivariate linear regression models were utilized to explore the relationship between PA patterns and CMI. Moreover, stratified analyses, interaction tests and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analysis were used to investigate the stability and nonlinearity of the association, respectively. ResultsA total of 16,442 adults were included in this study. After adjusting for all potential covariates, only the regularly active group was significantly associated with CMI reduction (β = −0.13, 95% CI: 0.19 to −0.07, P < 0.0001), while the weekend warriors group did not achieve equivalent CMI reduction (β = −0.09, 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.14, P = 0.4204). Subgroup analyses and interaction tests revealed that the CMI-PA association was more pronounced in the subgroup with age≤45 or >60, with higher education level, and who are current drinkers. Furthermore, RCS analysis indicated that total PA in a week was significantly, nonlinearly associated with CMI in non-inactive adults, and that a total of PA more than 330 min can reap favorable CMI reduction. ConclusionBeing regularly active is associated with significant CMI reduction, while being weekend warriors and insufficiently active do not achieve equivalent benefits. For non-inactive individuals, engaging in PA for more than 330 min weekly helps to reduce CMI effectively.

Abstract P443: Alcohol Use Prevalence Among US Born and Foreign-Born Black Adults in the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey

Background: Alcohol use is an important risk factor for CVD, but variations among Black adults are not well known. We aimed to examine differences in alcohol use among Black subgroups. Hypothesis: Foreign-born Black adults will exhibit less alcohol use than their native-born peers. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey. Exposure was Black subethnic categories; African American (AA), African Immigrant (AI), and Afro-Caribbean (AC) adults; with non-Hispanic U.S. born White adults as the reference group. The outcome was self-reported alcohol use, categorized as never, former, or current drinker. Survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relative risk ratios of alcohol use adjusting for covariates. Results: We included 415,250 White adults and 84,709 Black adults. Of those, 73,893 (87.2%) were AA, 6,739 (8.0%) were AC, and 4,077(4.8%) were AI. After adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, employment, income, and insurance, the prevalence rates of current drinking were 68.3, 32.5, 48.1, and 57.1 for White, AI, AC, and AA, respectively. The odds of never drinker and former drinker compared to current drinker were higher among all Black groups than White adults. AI. were more likely to be never drinkers (RRR: 9.48; 95% CI: 8.10-11.10) followed by AC (RRR:3.70 95% CI: 3.22-4.24) and AA (RRR: 1.91 95% CI: 1.81-2.01). Conclusion: Black adults are less likely to be current alcohol drinkers when compared to White adults. However, there is significant variation in alcohol usage within the Black population by region of origin. These findings highlight the need for further intra-race evaluation into the underlying causes of alcohol use differences.

Abstract P147: Alcohol Consumption and Its Relation to Ectopic Adiposity in African Caribbean Men

Introduction: Alcohol intake and ectopic fat are associated with cardiometabolic diseases. While previous studies primarily focused on visceral and/or liver fat, few studies to date have investigated the associations of alcohol intake with skeletal muscle fat infiltration, a fat depot which might contribute to the increased risk of diabetes and hypertension in African ancestry populations. Methods: Alcohol intake (drinks/day) was assessed using a 146-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in the Tobago Health Study (N=800). Ectopic fat was measured in the abdomen and thigh in a subset of this cohort (N=706, mean age=63.94 (8.66) years, mean BMI=27.72 (4.65) kg/m 2 ) using computed tomography. Men were divided into current drinkers/not current drinkers, and the current drinkers were further subdivided into types of alcohol consumed (wine, beer/stout, or liquor). Results: A majority of men (56.1%) were not current drinkers. Of drinking men, 76.1% were light drinkers (&lt;1 drink/day), 17.4% were moderate drinkers (1-3 drinks/day), and 6.5% were heavy drinkers (&gt;3 drinks/day). Men who did not drink were slightly older (65.1 vs 62.5, p&lt;0.001), with less visceral adiposity (91.4 vs. 101.9 cm 3 , p=0.002) and less psoas muscle fat (0.59 vs 0.64 cm 3 , p=0.017) than men who drank, independent of age. In fully adjusted models, drinking liquor was positively associated with BMI, waist circumference, visceral and subcutaneous adiposity, while drinking beer was positively associated with thigh muscle fat (Table). Conclusion: Alcohol intake was associated with greater ectopic fat accumulation in all studied compartments, except in the liver, in this cohort of African Caribbean men, who mostly had low alcohol consumption. We also report a novel finding that observed relationships differ by type of alcohol. † Adjusted for total energy intake, age, walking (hours/week), TV watching (≥14 hours/week), current smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and statin use status. * Additional adjustment for BMIHU = Houndsfield Units

Abstract P194: Consumption of Added Sugar and Added Sugar-Rich Foods and Beverages is Associated With Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Background: Added sugar (AS) and AS-rich foods and beverages have shown unfavorable associations with overall and cardiovascular health; however, their associations with epigenetic age has not been studied. Aim: To examine the associations of AS intake and AS-rich carbohydrate (CHO) food score with the pace of epigenetic aging in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Methods: There were 850 adults included in this cross-sectional study using data from Year 20 (2005-06). Trained interviewers administered a diet history, and foods were coded using Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), which outputs nutrients, including AS, and food groups. An AS-rich CHO food score was created including refined grain breads and rolls, quick breads, sweet bakery products, ready-to-eat cereals, candy, sugar products, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Year 20 epigenetic age measures were calculated from DNA methylation data, generating acceleration measures GrimAge acceleration (GrimAA) and PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAA). Multivariable linear regression evaluated the associations of GrimAA and PhenoAA across quartiles of AS and AS-rich CHO food score, adjusted for demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors (see footnotes in table). Results: Participants who consumed more AS completed fewer years of education, were less likely to be current drinkers or smokers, and more likely to be ever smokers. They had lower intakes of total CHO, protein, total fat, and saturated fat, and fewer servings of vegetables, red and processed meat, eggs, and diet beverages. Consuming more AS was positively associated with PhenoAA (p trend =0.029), but not GrimAA (p trend =0.85). The AS-rich CHO food score was also positively associated with PhenoAA (p trend &lt;0.001), but not GrimAA (p trend =0.14). Conclusions: Consuming greater amounts of AS and AS-rich CHO foods and beverages were associated with an increased risk for accelerated epigenetic aging.

Abstract P441: Alcohol Consumption and Incident Heart Failure, Ischemic Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation Among Current Drinkers: The All of Us Research Program

Background: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) is a clinically validated assessment tool with components that quantify last-year frequency of alcohol use, quantity consumed per drinking day and frequency of binge drinking. We determined the associations between AUDIT-C scores, their components and risks of heart failure (HF), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: In the NIH-sponsored ‘All of Us’ Research Program, we followed participants free of HF, IHD and AF who had consumed alcohol in the past year. We created Cox proportional hazards models for incident HF, IHD and AF that simultaneously adjusted for all 3 components of the AUDIT-C, sociodemographic factors, prevalent diseases and smoking status. We also created restricted cubic splines (RCS) regression models to determine the dose-response relationships between AUDIT-C scores and incident HF, IHD and AF. Results: The final sample size was 133,025 adults with a mean age of 50 years. There were 1,411 HF, 3793 IHD and 1072 AF cases over a median follow-up of 45 months. RCS demonstrated a J-shape association between total AUDIT-C scores and HF, an L-shaped association with IHD and a positive but non-significant association with AF. For AUDIT-C components, frequency of intake was associated with incident HF and IHD. Compared to drinking monthly or less, drinking 2-4 times/month, 2-3 times/week and 4 or more times per week were all associated with lower risk of incident IHD. Drinking 2-4 times/month and 2-3 times/week were negatively associated with incident HF. We observed no comparable associations of drinking quantity or binge drinking with risk of HF, IHD or AF. Conclusion: The AUDIT-C provides a quick, straightforward, and informative assessment of alcohol consumption. Among current drinkers, drinking frequency is associated with lower risk of HF and IHD but not AF. Greater quantity consumed per drinking day and episodes of binge drinking are not associated with lower risk of major cardiac diseases and should be discouraged.

Co-action and changes in alcohol use during a smoking cessation attempt.

Three smoking cessation studies (CARE, Break Free, Por Nuestra Salud [PNS]) were used to measure changes in average alcohol consumption, binge drinking and alcohol-related problems during a smoking cessation attempt and to explore co-action with smoking abstinence. CARE and PNS were longitudinal cohort cessation studies; Break Free was a two-arm randomized clinical trial. Texas, USA. Participants were current smokers who were recruited from the community and received smoking cessation interventions. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation counseling. CARE included 424 smokers (1/3 White, 1/3 African American and 1/3 Latino); Break Free included 399 African American smokers; PNS included 199 Spanish-speaking Mexican-American smokers. Weekly alcohol consumption was collected multiple times pre and post-quit, and binge drinking and alcohol-related problems were collected at baseline and 26 weeks post-quit. Analyses included only those who indicated current alcohol use. Average alcohol consumption decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 17.09, P < 0.001), Break Free (F = 12.08, P<0.001) and PNS (F = 10.21, P < 0.001). Binge drinking decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (F = 3.94, P = 0.04) and Break Free (F = 10.41, P < 0.001) but not PNS. Alcohol-related problems decreased from baseline to 26 weeks post-quit in CARE (Chi-sq = 6.41, P = 0.010) and Break Free (Chi sq = 14.44, P = 0.001), but not PNS. Among current drinkers, alcohol use/problems appear to decrease during a smoking cessation attempt and remain low through 26 weeks after the quit attempt. Little evidence was found for co-action, with smoking abstainers and relapsers showing similar change in alcohol use/problems.

Prevalence of self-reported severe periodontitis: Data from the population-based CONSTANCES cohort.

To assess the prevalence of severe periodontitis based on the population-based CONSTANCES cohort using a validated self-reported questionnaire. Individuals were selected from the adult population in France using a random sampling scheme. Analyses were restricted to those invited in 2013-2014 who completed the periodontal health questionnaire at the 2017 follow-up. The risk of severe periodontitis was assessed using the periodontal screening score (PESS) and weighting coefficients were applied to provide representative results in the general French population. The study included 19,859 participants (9204 men, mean age: 52.8 ± 12.6 years). Based on a PESS ≥ 5, 7106 participants were at risk of severe periodontitis, corresponding to a weighted prevalence of 31.6% (95% confidence interval: 30.6%-32.7%). This prevalence was higher among participants aged 55 and over, those with lower socio-economic status as well as current smokers, e-cigarette users and heavy drinkers. Among individuals at risk of severe periodontitis, only 18.8% (17.3%-20.4%) thought they had gum disease, although 50.5% (48.6%-52.5%) reported that their last dental visit was less than 6 months. The present survey indicates that (1) self-reported severe periodontitis is highly prevalent with marked disparities between groups in the general French adult population, and (2) periodontitis could frequently be under-diagnosed given the low awareness.

Relationship between traditional risk factors for hypertension and systolic blood pressure in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-based Cohort Study

Risk factors for hypertension have been emphasized in the Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension. However, large-scale studies on the association of smoking, potassium excretion, and gamma-glutamyl transferase level with BP in the Japanese population are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the association between hypertension risk factors and systolic blood pressure in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-based Cohort Study (23,446 men and 38,921 women aged ≥20 years). A model adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, drinking status, estimated daily salt intake, potassium excretion, (or urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio), gamma-glutamyl transferase, physical activity, education level, status of damage to homes during the Great East Japan Earthquake, and residential areas was used. The average age and systolic blood pressure were 62.5 (10.3) years for men and 59.6 (11.3) years for women, 128.9 (16.7) mmHg for men and 124.7 (17.5) mmHg for women, respectively. Body mass index estimated daily salt intake, urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were positively associated with systolic blood pressure. Compared with never-drinkers, current drinkers who consumed 23–45 g/day and ≥46.0 g/day had significantly increased systolic blood pressure. Conversely, current smokers (1-10 cigarettes/day and 11-20 cigarettes/day) were inversely associated with systolic blood pressure compared to never-smokers. Overall, systolic blood pressure was associated with gamma-glutamyl transferase and hypertension risk factors, including body mass index, alcohol consumption, estimated daily salt intake, urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio, and potassium excretion. Our findings support the notion that lifestyle modifications should be attempted to prevent hypertension.

Elevated blood malondialdehyde level contributed to a high stroke risk in a Chinese elderly population from rural areas: a cross-sectional study

Individuals living in rural areas have a higher incidence rate of stroke than their urban counterparts in China. However, few studies have investigated the association between blood malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid oxidation caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and stroke risk in rural populations. We aimed to investigate whether blood MDA levels contribute to a higher stroke risk in a Chinese elderly population from rural areas. Data from 2011 to 2012 from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a national cohort of older adults in China, were analyzed. Smooth curve and multivariable correction analyses were used to evaluate the association between blood MDA levels and stroke risk in elderly populations from rural and urban areas, respectively. The median age of all included participants (N = 1598) was 84.04 years. The results of the smooth curve model revealed a gradual upward trend in the association of blood MDA levels with stroke risk in rural participants but not in urban participants. Similarly, the conditional logistic regression analysis suggested a significant association between MDA levels and stroke risk in rural participants but not in urban participants after adjustments for related confounding factors (age, sex, current smoker, current drinker, regular exercise, BMI and cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and diabetes)) were made. In brief, among the elderly population in China, elevated blood MDA levels were associated with increased stroke risk in rural participants but not in urban participants.

Loneliness is associated with smoking and alcohol consumption in older adults: Findings from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey

IntroductionDespite the well-known health risks associated with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, this study explores the association between loneliness and these behaviors specifically among the elderly in the Chinese context. It examines the relationship between loneliness and the tendency to smoke and drink among this demographic. Additionally, the research investigates how these associations vary between genders among the elderly, identifying distinct patterns in the relationship between loneliness and smoking and alcohol consumption among elderly men and women. MethodThis secondary cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2017–2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We employed multivariate multinomial logistic regression to analyze these relationships, including sex-specific associations, and reported adjusted odds ratios (AOR), confidence intervals (CI), and p-values. The analysis was conducted using STATA version 18, with significant p-values set at 0.05. ResultOur analysis included 15,874 participants, of which 6.4% (95% CI: 6.0 – 6.8; N=1015) were categorized as Always Lonely, indicating frequent loneliness, and 17.0% (95% CI: 16.4 – 17.6; N=2702) as Sometimes Lonely, indicating occasional loneliness, with 76.6% (95% CI: 75.9 – 77.2; N=12,157) not experiencing loneliness. The mean age was 85.5 years with a standard deviation of 11.7. Gender distribution showed that 43.6% (n=6925) were male and 56.4% (n=8949) were female. Frequently lonely participants had increased odds of current smoking (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01–1.57; p = 0.040), while those occasionally lonely were less inclined towards current drinking (AOR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.70–0.94; p = 0.005). Gender-specific outcomes indicated that often lonely men were more likely to smoke (AOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10–1.87; p = 0.008) and were also less likely to be current drinkers (AOR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55–0.98; p = 0.038). No significant associations were found for women in smoking or drinking behaviors relative to loneliness levels. ConclusionOur study identified a significant relationship between loneliness and a higher likelihood of smoking in elderly Chinese men, not women, and observed gender-specific differences in alcohol use, with men showing a lower likelihood of drinking when occasionally lonely, a pattern absent in women. Future prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated factors in sedentary occupational population from Shanghai: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but its prevalence and determinants among sedentary occupational population are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors for dyslipidemia among a sedentary occupational population in Shanghai, China.MethodsWe collected data from 35,950 sedentary occupational workers on their demographics, social, medical, and family history, lifestyle, anthropometry, and biochemistry. We used the 2016 Chinese guideline for the management of dyslipidemia in adults to define dyslipidemia and its subtypes. We performed multivariate logistic regression to examine the factors associated with dyslipidemia.ResultsThe prevalence of dyslipidemia was 29.10%, with 15.86% for high triglycerides (TG), 6.43% for high total cholesterol (TC), 5.37% for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and 14.68% for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Men had a significantly higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than women (39.64% vs. 12.43%, P < 0.01). Factors associated with dyslipidemia included older age, being married, longer sedentary time while resting, frequent intake of animal viscera, current smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Current drinking was associated with a 1.24 times higher prevalence of high TG (P < 0.01). Current smokers were less likely to have low HDL-C than non-smokers.ConclusionsOur present study, in a population of 35,950 sedentary occupational workers from Shanghai, demonstrated a prevalence of dyslipidemia, but lower than in other previous studies without the limitation of occupational characteristics. Prevention and control measures for dyslipidemia should take into account the characteristics and related factors for this population group.

Implications of the decline in adolescent drinking on the experience of alcohol-related consequences in the Nordic countries: A study based on data from the ESPAD project.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate: (1) whether self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences among adolescents in the Nordic countries have declined in concert with the decline in alcohol consumption; (2) whether the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences has strengthened; and (3) whether the decline in alcohol-related consequences can be attributed to the decline in alcohol consumption. Methods: Data are from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) cross-sectional surveys in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Participants were students aged 15-16 years in 2007 (n = 16,035), 2011 (n = 14,765) and 2015 (n = 13,517). Alcohol consumption variables included lifetime and 12-month alcohol use, volume ethanol at last drinking occasion and heavy episodic drinking in the past 30 days. Self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences were measured as a sum index of experiencing the following at least once within the last 12 months: (1) an accident or injury; (2) being victimised by robbery or theft; or (3) had trouble with the police. Results: For all alcohol indicators, adolescent alcohol use decreased between 2007 and 2015. The highest prevalence estimates were found in Denmark, and here only the number of current drinkers decreased significantly. In addition, a decreasing trend in self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences was observed. We did not find a strengthening of the alcohol consumption consequences association from 2007 to 2015, except in Iceland. When all surveys were combined, the decrease in alcohol-related consequences could be explained by a decrease in alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Overall, adolescents aged 15-16 years exhibited decreasing trends in both alcohol consumption, less markedly in Denmark, and in our sum index of alcohol-related consequences between 2007 and 2015. Except for Iceland, we found no support for a strengthening of the alcohol-consequences association with declining drinking among adolescents.

Analysis of Current Drink Consumption Behavior on Blood Sugar Levels in Adolescents

Adolescents are becoming increasingly familiar with drinks that are currently popular. Things that are “current” at a certain time are things that are trending or popular. Teenagers are increasingly consuming modern drinks for various reasons. Drinking modern beverages has raised some concerns, primarily due to their potentially excessive levels of sugar, caffeine, and calories. Numerous studies have revealed that excessive consumption of sugary drinks is associated with several health problems, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other problems. This research contributes to understanding current drink consumption behavior among teenagers and its impact on blood sugar levels. The research method used was quantitative with a cross-sectional approach. The sample size was 182 respondents. The sampling technique is simple random sampling. Research instrument with a questionnaire. Bivariate analysis results: age with current drinking frequency 0.85 (&gt;0.05), amount of pocket money with current drinking frequency 0.01 (&lt;0.05), central obesity with current drinking frequency 0.78 (&gt;0.05), transportation with current drinking frequency 0.03 (&lt;0.05), taste and brand with current drinking frequency 0.00 (&lt;0.05), Blood Sugar Levels with drinking frequency current drink p Value 0.47 (&gt;0.05). Conclusions that influence current drink consumption by students: the amount of pocket money, type of transportation, interest in the taste and brand of current drinks and there is no relationship between current blood sugar levels and the frequency of drinking current drinks.