Non-heavy Drinkers Research Articles

A nonlinear relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive function in elderly people: a population-based study from NHANES 2011-2014.

This study aims to explore the association between alcohol intake and cognitive function in elderly Americans, including potential nonlinear relationships and interactions across different subgroups. The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. The sample included 2,675 Americans aged 60 or older. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function. Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were employed to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the stability of the results across different subgroups. The results indicate a significant negative correlation between alcohol intake and cognitive function. In the CERAD total word recall test, for every unit increase in alcohol intake, the score decreased by 0.15 points (-0.15, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.04), and in the CERAD delayed recall test, it decreased by 0.07 points (-0.07, 95% CI: -0.12, -0.01). Compared to Non-Heavy Drinkers, Heavy Drinkers showed a reduction in their CERAD total word recall scores by-0.77 points (-0.77, 95% CI: -1.23, -0.32) and in their CERAD delayed recall scores by-0.28 points (-0.28, 95% CI: -0.52, -0.04). Smooth curve fitting analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function, with breakpoints at 10.7 for the CERAD total word recall test, 4.7 for the Animal fluency test, and 3.85 for the Digit symbol substitution test. Additionally, subgroup analysis indicated that gender, educational level, and smoking status significantly moderated the relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function, while marital status, race, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer status showed no significant interactions. The association between alcohol intake and cognitive function in the elderly is complex, influenced by both the amount of intake and individual subgroup characteristics.

Effects of Heavy Alcohol Use on Nighttime Blood Pressure, Sleep Quality, and Urine Catecholamines

Heavy alcohol drinking habits contribute to the development of hypertension; this is partly due to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and the increased release of catecholamines. Recently, heavy alcohol drinking has been linked to poor sleep quality, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We postulated that long-term frequent heavy alcohol use could increase catecholamine levels and cause blood pressure dysregulation at night, altogether influencing sleep quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the following hypothesis that compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers have a higher level of nighttime catecholamines, a higher levels of nighttime blood pressure, and poorer sleep quality. A total of 44 men and postmenopausal women non-smokers, free of major clinical diseases, were included in this study. Heavy drinkers were defined as those having a dried blood spot phosphatidylethanol (PEth, a biomarker to detect heavy alcohol drinking) level ≥ 20 ng/mL. Participants wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and catecholamines were measured from urine samples collected in the same 24-hour period. Sleep quality was measured by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. There were 21 heavy drinkers (mean±SEM for age: 58±1 and BMI: 26.2±0.7 kg/m2) and 23 non-heavy drinkers (age: 58±1 and BMI: 27.5±0.8 kg/m2; P≥0.3 vs. heavy drinkers). Compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers had a higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP), higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and a lower SBP dipping ratio (heavy drinkers vs. non-heavy drinkers for nighttime SBP: 118±3 vs. 109±2 mmHg, P=0.02; nighttime DBP: 70±2 vs. 65±2 mmHg, P=0.04; and SBP dipping ratio: 10.6±1.4% vs. 14.5±1.6%, P=0.04). No differences were found in nighttime urine catecholamines between heavy drinkers and non-heavy drinkers (P≥0.3). A total of 13 participants had a PSQI score higher than 5, indicating poor sleep quality; however, PSQI scores were similar between heavy and non-heavy drinkers (P=0.8). These findings indicate that heavy drinkers had a higher nighttime blood pressure and are consistent with the observation that heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in mid-life adults. Interestingly, the increase in nighttime blood pressure does not appear to be related to catecholamines and sleep quality in apparently healthy mid-life adults does not appear to be influenced by heavy drinking habits. This work was supported by NIAAA AA028537 to CLH and AHA 1266805160 to TH. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Effects of Heavy Alcohol Use on Fasting Glucose and Insulin Resistance in Mid-Life Adults

Introduction: As our population ages, type 2 diabetes has become more prevalent in the United States and one in five mid-life adults (50-64 years) have type 2 diabetes. Unhealthy and heavy alcohol use (that exceeds recommended drinking limits) causes dysfunction of the liver and pancreas that can impact glucose control and thereby increase risks of type 2 diabetes. In young adults, we previously found that fasting glucose and insulin resistance were not associated with heavy alcohol use. However, it remains unclear if heavy alcohol use contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes in an aged population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effect of heavy alcohol use on fasting glucose and insulin resistance in apparently healthy mid-life adults. Methods: Mid-life men (n=21) and postmenopausal women (n=28), non-smokers, free of obesity and major clinical diseases, were recruited from the community around the Dallas—Fort Worth metroplex. All participants underwent physical exam and fasting blood sampling. Alcohol use was assessed by the US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (USAUDIT) and a dried blood spot phosphatidylethanol (PEth) test. A PEth cutoff of 20 ng/mL was used to define heavy drinkers. Insulin resistance was assessed by calculating HOMA-IR (Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance) as insulin (μU/L) x glucose (nmol/L)/22.5. Results: A total of 24 participants had PEth levels of <20 ng/mL (non-heavy drinkers; PEth ranged from <limit of quantification to 13 ng/mL; mean ± SEM for age: 58±1 years and body mass index: 25.2±0.6 kg/m2) and the other 25 participants had PEth levels ≥20 ng/mL (heavy drinkers; PEth ranged from 20 to 665 ng/mL; age: 57±1 years and body mass index: 25.7±0.5 kg/m2). Heavy drinkers had higher USAUDIT scores than non-heavy drinkers (11.3±1.4 vs. 3.3±0.5, p<0.001). No significant difference between these two groups were found in lipid values (P≥0.1) as well as renal (P≥0.3) and liver function values (P≥0.08). Compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers had a higher level of fasting blood glucose (96±2 vs. 91±1 mg/dL, P=0.02), but similar blood insulin (9.2±2.5 vs. 5.5±0.5 μIU/L, P=0.2) and HOMA-IR (2.23±0.64 vs. 1.23±0.11, P=0.1). The results for stepwise linear regression model indicate that only USAUDIT score was an independent factor of fasting glucose (B=0.59, p<0.001). Conclusion: Our results indicate that compared to mid-life adult non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers had higher fasting blood glucose levels, despite similar renal and liver function. Our results also indicate that higher risks of alcohol use disorder were associated with higher levels of fasting glucose. These data suggest that heavy alcohol use may have negative effects on glucose regulation in aged populations and increase risks of type 2 diabetes. This work was supported by NIAAA AA028537 to CLH. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Clinical characteristics of heavy alcohol consumption in young and middle-aged acute cerebral infarction: A 12-month follow-up study

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of heavy alcohol consumption among young and middle-aged patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). MethodsA total of 263 young and middle-aged ACI patients were included in the study from June 2018 to December 2020 and classified into heavy drinkers and non-heavy drinkers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between ACI and heavy alcohol consumption, considering clinical characteristics and one-year post-discharge prognosis. ResultsAmong the patients, 78 were heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to consume alcohol 24 h before ACI onset (OR 4.03, 95 % CI 2.26–7.20), especially in the form of liquor (OR 3.83, 95 % CI 1.59–9.20), and had a higher risk of diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg upon admission (OR 2.02, 95 % CI 1.12–3.64). In the one-year post-discharge prognosis, heavy drinkers had a greater likelihood of poor prognosis at 3 months (OR 2.31, 95 % CI 1.01–5.25), were less likely to quit drinking after discharge (OR 0.36, 95 % CI 0.19–0.66), and had a higher risk of recurrent cerebral infarction (OR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.14–6.84). ConclusionsOver the 12-month follow-up, young and middle-aged ACI patients with heavy alcohol consumption exhibited worse short-term prognosis. Controlling alcohol consumption levels may improve the prognosis of these patients.

How Do Gain-Loss Frames and Cultural Arguments Persuade? Designing Effective Messages to Weaken College Students’ Binge-Drinking Intentions

To design effective health messages, this study investigates the effects of gain-loss framing and relevant moderating effects in the context of college students’ alcohol use. Specifically, based on an online experiment, we tested the moderation effects of message-sidedness and binge-drinking behaviors using a mediation model in which the association between gain-loss framing and behavioral intentions is mediated by attitudes toward binge-drinking. Four hundred thirty-four Korean college students participated in this study. Hayes’ PROCESS Macro for SPSS was employed for the analysis. The results show that loss-framing significantly increased participants’ unfavorable attitudes toward binge-drinking in the one-sided message condition. Moreover, attitudes toward binge-drinking were more significantly associated with behavioral intentions to binge-drink among heavy drinkers than among non-heavy drinkers. Our findings suggest important theoretical and practical implications for the development of message-framing strategies in health campaigns designed to prevent college students’ binge-drinking in collectivistic societies where the cultural meaning of drinking extends beyond the individual realm to the larger social context.

The role of anhedonia in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), alcohol use disorder symptoms, and food addiction symptoms in a sample of emerging adults with histories of heavy drinking.

Previous research has shown that (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, including depression, problematic alcohol use, and disordered patterns of overeating, including food addiction (FA). Moreover, anhedonia, or an inability to feel pleasure, has been also shown to increase risk for problematic alcohol use, as well as FA. It is possible that anhedonia may be implicated in health risk behaviors as individuals with anhedonia may seek out highly hedonic activities. The purpose of the present study was to explore the direct and indirect relationship between ACEs and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and FA symptoms via anhedonia in a diverse sample of emerging adults with histories of heavy drinking. A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used. The sample was 42.6% male, 45.5% White, and 39.9% Black, and the average age of participants was 22.64 (SD = 1.01). A confirmatory factor analysis was used to specify the model, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The initial measurement model was overidentified and demonstrated acceptable to favorable fit. Standardized results from a bootstrap analysis of the structural regression model showed significant direct effects of ACEs on FA and AUD symptoms. Results also found a significant indirect effect of ACEs on AUD symptoms through anhedonia, though this indirect effect was not significant for FA. Anhedonia could be a key target for the prevention and treatment of problematic alcohol use. Future research should examine the role of anhedonia in the maintenance of FA in nonheavy drinking samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Cyp3A4 *1G polymorphism is associated with alcohol drinking: A 5-year retrospective single centered population-based study in China.

We investigated the epidemiology of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 genotype and the relationship between CYP3A4 genotype and alcohol drinking habits. A single-centered retrospective study was conducted on 630 patients who underwent CYP3A4*1G genetic testing. Their relevant information on epidemiology and etiology was collected. Laboratory testing, including CYP3A4*1G genotype, liver function tests, and serum lipid measurements were performed. Bi-variate logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between variables. The relationship between alcohol drinking and CYP3A4*1G genotype was estimated. Demographic and clinical features were analyzed. Participants with drinking history were divided into non-heavy drinking and heavy drinking groups. Liver function and dyslipidemia of participants with drinking histories were compared between CYP3A4*1G mutation (GA+AA) and wild-type (GG) groups. Participants with CYP3A4*1G mutation(GA+AA) had an increased adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.56 (95% CI, 1.4-4.65; P = 0.00) for alcohol abuse when compared with participants without CYP3A4 mutation (GG). In the subgroup of participants with alcohol abuse, there are no significant differences in liver injury levels and serum lipid levels between CYP3A4*1G mutant and wild-type groups. Patients with CYP3A4*1G mutation had an increased AOR of cardiac-vascular diseases and malignant diseases compared with patients without CYP3A4*1G mutation. The epidemiology had no difference between GA and AA group. The study indicated that there was association between alcohol drinking and CYP3A4*1G genetic mutation. In the subgroup of participants with alcohol abuse, there are no significant differences in liver injury and dyslipidemia between CYP3A4*1G mutant and wild-type groups. CYP3A4*1G mutation was also related to cardiac-vascular diseases and malignant diseases.

A mobile phone intervention to reduce heavy drinking: a preliminary analysis of anchoring heuristics

BackgroundPreliminary evidence has been presented for interventions focused on preventing alcohol consumption or reducing the occurrence of episodes of excessive drinking. The anchoring text message intervention is a newly proposed theory-based approach to reducing heavy drinking among youth. The current study tests the preliminary efficacy of this intervention for reducing heavy drinking among Mexican youth.MethodsFocusing on a sample of sixteen Mexican youths—nine not-heavy drinkers and seven heavy drinkers—the participants completed a survey on alcohol consumption and anchoring heuristics. Pretest and post-test questionnaire data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The anchoring text messages consisted of strategies to limit alcohol use and feedback reminder messages. Assessments were conducted at baseline, four weeks of intervention, and post-intervention.ResultsLogistic regression analyses indicated a significant effect on heavy drinking episodes post-intervention. The post-intervention anchoring effects among the heavy drinker participants were different from those among the non-heavy drinkers in terms of reporting heavy drinking and future drinking. The anchoring heuristic-based intervention reduced the quantity of drinking and the future estimation of drinking and improved the ability to reject alcohol in the heavy drinker group.ConclusionsThese findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of the anchoring heuristic-based intervention, conducted through text messages sent by mobile phone to reduce alcohol consumption. The intervention promoted a reduction in alcohol consumption. Future research should be directed toward investigating the anchoring effects among heavy drinkers.

Recreational Marijuana Legalization, Local Retail Availability, and Alcohol and Marijuana Use and Co-Use Among California High School Students.

This study examined whether recreational marijuana legalization (RML) and local retail availability were associated with marijuana and alcohol use and co-use among adolescents. We investigated associations between RML and past-30-day marijuana and alcohol use and co-use, and moderating effects of retail availability of marijuana and alcohol, using data from the 2010-2011 to 2018-2019 California Healthy Kids Surveys (CHKS) of 9th and 11th grade students in 38 California cities. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for secular trends and student and city demographics. Additional analyses examined associations of RML and retail availability with co-use among subgroups of drinkers and marijuana users. For the full sample, RML was inversely associated with alcohol use but was not significantly associated with marijuana use or co-use with alcohol. However, significant interactions between RML and marijuana outlet density showed that there were increases in marijuana and alcohol co-use and alcohol following legalization in cities with higher densities of marijuana outlets. RML was positively associated with co-use among non-heavy and heavy drinkers, but inversely related to co-use among occasional and frequent marijuana users. A significant positive interaction between RML and marijuana outlet density indicated that RML was associated with increases in co-use for occasional marijuana users in cities with higher densities of marijuana outlets. RML was associated with increases in marijuana and alcohol co-use and alcohol use among California high school students, particularly those in cities with higher densities of retail cannabis stores, although this varied across alcohol and marijuana use subgroups.

Lifestyle factors and suicide risk: A nationwide population-based study

ObjectiveTo examine the association between lifestyle factors and suicide-related outcomes. MethodsData from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015 and 2017 were used. We identified lifestyle factors including smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) in 9529 eligible subjects. We analyzed the risk of suicidal ideation, plan, attempt, and the composite of suicidality within the past year according to the lifestyle factors. In addition, stratified analyses were performed according to the diagnostic history of depression. ResultsCompared to never-smokers, ex-smokers and current smokers showed an increased risk of suicidal ideation, suicidal plan, and the composite of suicidality. Compared to the low HEI group, those with the highest HEI showed a decreased risk of suicide ideation and the composite of suicidality. Among those with depression, the increased risk of suicide-related outcomes from smoking was more prominent and heavy drinking was associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts. ConclusionSmoking and heavy drinking were associated with an increased risk of suicide-related outcomes, but high-quality diets and non-heavy drinking were associated with a decreased risk. In people with depression, the associations between lifestyle factors and suicide-related outcomes were stronger than in those without depression.

Does ethyl glucuronide in hair correlate with alcohol consumption? A comparative study with other traditional biomarkers among individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome.

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in hair is a direct biomarker proven to be useful for the detection of chronic excessive alcohol use. This study investigated the association of self-reported alcohol consumption with traditional biomarkers: GGT, AST, ALT, CDT, and MCV in blood and a direct biomarker, hair EtG, in a total of 122 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. The diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers to differentiate heavy from non-heavy drinkers was also evaluated. GGT, AST, and ALT in serum were measured by Automated Chemistry Analyzer, MCV in blood was measured by Haematology Analyzer, serum CDT was analyzed by ELISA, and EtG in hair was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The association between the biomarkers and the amount of alcohol consumed (self-reported) was determined using Spearman's rank correlation. All participants showed EtG level above the cut-off (0.03ng/mg). Hair EtG showed a statistically significant linear and positive correlation with the amounts (in grams) of alcohol consumed (r=0.60; p<0.001). No correlation was observed among the traditional biomarkers and the quantity of alcohol consumed. Also, EtG showed an excellent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (98%) with good sensitivity (85%) and specificity (60%) to classify heavy drinkers among individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome. Hair EtG can be helpful to estimate retrospective alcohol consumption in long-term chronic alcohol consumption cases. Hair EtG also provides a reliable diagnostic test to detect heavy drinkers among individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome.

Association of the Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease with Serum Uric Acid-to-Creatinine Ratio.

Background: No study has examined whether serum uric acid/creatinine (sUA/Cr) is associated with the newly defined metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLDs). Furthermore, studies on other factors influencing their relationship have not been conducted. Aim: To investigate the relationship between sUA/Cr and newly defined MAFLD, and to identify any factors that affect this relationship. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) at the Hospital Health Promotion Center. Participants were divided into the healthy (no evidence of liver disease; n = 707), MAFLD+non-heavy drinking (steatosis diagnosed by CT and drinking <140 and 70 grams/week for men and women, respectively; n = 291), and MAFLD+heavy drinking (fatty liver diagnosed by CT and drinking >140 and 70 grams/week for men and women, respectively; n = 61) groups. The relationship between sUA/Cr and MAFLD among the three groups were compared using multivariate logistic regression. Results: After adjusting for age, it was observed that when the sUA/Cr ratio increased by 1, the risk of MAFLD increased by 1.205 times the risk in the normal group. After adjusting for age, an increase by 1 in the sUA/Cr ratio increased the probability of non-heavy drinking+MAFLD and heavy drinking+MAFLD by 1.302 and 1.556 times, respectively, compared with healthy individuals. For those who smoked, the probability of heavy drinking+MAFLD was 9.901 times higher compared with healthy individuals. Conclusion: The newly defined MAFLD is related to sUA/Cr. The amount of alcohol consumption and smoking influenced the association between sUA/Cr and MAFLD.

Association Between Alcohol Intake and Prostate Specific Antigen Screening: Results From a National Behavioral Survey

ObjectiveTo assess the association between self-reported alcohol use and prostate cancer (PCa) screening using the U.S.-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of men aged between 55 and 69 who responded to the PSA screening and alcohol consumption portions of the 2018 BRFSS survey was performed. Alcohol consumption was assessed according with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of binge and heavy drinking. Rates of PSA screening between binge and non-binge drinkers and among heavy and non-heavy drinkers were compared. A complex weighted multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for socio-economic covariates and weighted using BRFSS sample weights, was used to test the association between the self-reported alcohol use and the odds of PSA screening. ResultsAmong 57,774 men eligible for PCa screening, there were 8,276 binge drinkers with an unadjusted PSA screening prevalence of 37% versus 40% in the non-binge drinking group (P = .018). Among 3,836 heavy drinkers, the unadjusted PSA screening prevalence was 34% versus 40% in non-heavy drinkers (P < .001). In the multivariable analysis, only heavy drinking status was significantly associated with a lower odds of PSA screening (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98, P = .02). ConclusionGiven that alcohol overuse may increase the risk of developing cancer, our finding of lower utilization of PCa screening among heavy drinkers is noteworthy. Efforts to support guideline-concordant cancer screening among heavy drinkers may represent an important strategy to reduce the burden of cancer in these men.

Intimate Partner Aggression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations With Stress and Heavy Drinking.

This study aimed to test empirically whether (1) the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in intimate partner aggression (IPA) and heavy drinking, and (2) heavy drinking moderated the association between COVID-19 stress and IPA perpetration. Participants were 510 individuals (approximately 50% who endorsed a sexual or gender minority identity) recruited via Qualtrics Research Services in April 2020, during the height of shelter-in-place (SiP) restrictions across the United States. They completed a questionnaire battery that included measures of COVID-19 stressors, physical and psychological IPA perpetration, and heavy drinking. Rates of physical and psychological IPA perpetration significantly increased after implementation of SiP restrictions which aimed to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. COVID-19 stress was significantly and positively associated with physical and psychological IPA perpetration; however, COVID-19 stress was positively associated with physical IPA perpetration among non-heavy drinking, but not heavy drinking, participants. Drawn from a large sample of participants of diverse sexual identities, findings tentatively implicate COVID-19 stress as a critical correlate of IPA perpetration and suggest that "low risk" individuals (i.e., non-heavy drinkers) should not be overlooked. These data provide preliminary support for the usefulness of public health polices and individual-level interventions that target stress, heavy drinking, and their antecedents.

Dose‐dependent relationship between social drinking and brain aging

Low-level alcohol consumption is commonly perceived as being inconsequential or even beneficial for overall health, with some reports suggesting that it may protect against dementia or cardiovascular risks. However, these potential benefits do not preclude the concurrent possibility of negative health outcomes related to alcohol consumption. To examine whether casual, non-heavy drinking is associated with premature brain aging, we utilized the Brain-Age Regression Analysis and Computational Utility Software package to predict brain age in a community sample of adults [n = 240, mean age 35.1 (±10.7) years, 48% male, 49% African American]. Accelerated brain aging was operationalized as the difference between predicted and chronological age (“brain age gap”). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between previous 90-day alcohol consumption and brain age gap (β = 0.014, p = 0.023). We replicated these results in an independent cohort [n = 231 adults, mean age 34.3 (±11.1) years, 55% male, 28% African American: β = 0.014, p = 0.002]. Our results suggest that even low-level alcohol consumption is associated with premature brain aging. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be investigated.

Effects of Acute Alcohol Intake on Nasal Patency

Acute alcohol intake may influence nasal patency; however, there is lack of objective evidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute alcohol intake on nasal patency employing both subjective and objective measures. A total of 31 participants were classified into 2 groups of non-heavy drinkers (n = 17) and heavy drinkers (n = 14). Both groups consumed wine in 1 h and were assessed for subjective nasal symptoms and objective nasal patency, using rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry, at baseline and at 0.5, 2, and 6 h post-alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption significantly increased nasal obstruction from baseline values in both heavy and non-heavy drinking groups. Total nasal volume (TNV) and the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) were significantly decreased and nasal airway resistance (NAR) significantly increased from baseline values by 2 h post-alcohol consumption for both heavy and non-heavy drinking groups (P < .05). Significant differences were found in TNV, MCA, and NAR between baseline and post-drinking in allergic rhinitis subjects; with no significant differences in MCA and NAR in subjects without allergic rhinitis. Pulse rate (PR) and temperature (T) were elevated, and blood pressure (BP) was decreased after alcohol consumption (P < .05). Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was not significantly correlated with nasal patency with regard to any subjective or objective measurement. Acute alcohol consumption may impair nasal patency, independent of the amount consumed. Individuals with allergic rhinitis may be more prone to nasal obstruction after alcohol consumption than those without allergic rhinitis.

Within-AUD outpatient treatment heavy drinking transitions and associations with long-term outcomes

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine whether changes in heavy drinking occurring within alcohol treatment predict long-term functioning. MethodLatent profile analyses were conducted using data from Project MATCH and COMBINE. Observed changes in heavy and nonheavy drinking within consecutive 2-week periods over the respective treatment durations were characterized for each participant and were used to identify latent profiles. ResultsBoth data sets revealed 6 profiles: (1) continuous “remission” (nonheavy drinking); (2) transition from heavy drinking (“relapse”) to remission; (3) mostly remission, limited relapse; (4) numerous short transitions between relapse and remission; (5) transition to relapse; and (6) continuous relapse. Profiles 1 and 2 had the best long-term outcomes, Profiles 5 and 6 had the worst, and Profiles 3 and 4 fell between these groups. Within-treatment patterns of heavy drinking and nonheavy drinking were also associated with post-treatment patterns of relapse and remission. ConclusionsPatterns of transition between episodes that respectively include heavy and nonheavy drinking predict long-term alcohol use and psychosocial outcomes and seem essential for clinicians to discuss with their patients. Relapses during outpatient treatment do not necessarily indicate treatment failure, provided they are relatively brief and/or infrequent. In addition, some individuals can and do change from transition patterns of heavy drinking within treatment that are predictive of poorer long-term functioning to transition patterns that predict better functioning within the first year post-treatment.

Changes in Alcohol Use and Drinking Context due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multimethod Study of College Student Drinkers.

BackgroundIn spring 2020, U.S. universities closed campuses to limit the transmission of COVID‐19, resulting in an abrupt change in residence, reductions in social interaction, and in many cases, movement away from a heavy drinking culture. The present mixed‐methods study explores COVID‐19‐related changes in college student drinking. We characterize concomitant changes in social and location drinking contexts and describe reasons attributed to changes in drinking.MethodsWe conducted two studies of the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on drinking behavior, drinking context, and reasons for both increases and decreases in consumption among college students. Study 1 (qualitative) included 18 heavy‐drinking college students (M age = 20.2; 56% female) who completed semi‐structured interviews. Study 2 (quantitative) included 312 current and former college students who reported use of alcohol and cannabis (M age = 21.3; 62% female) and who completed an online survey.ResultsIn both studies, COVID‐19‐related increases in drinking frequency were accompanied by decreases in quantity, heavy drinking, and drunkenness. Yet, in Study 2, although heavier drinkers reduced their drinking, among non‐heavy drinkers several indices of consumption increased or remained stable . Both studies also provided evidence of reductions in social drinking with friends and roommates and at parties and increased drinking with family. Participants confirmed that their drinking decreased due to reduced social opportunities and/or settings, limited access to alcohol, and reasons related to health and self‐discipline. Increases were attributed to greater opportunity (more time) and boredom and to a lesser extent, lower perceived risk of harm and to cope with distress.ConclusionThis study documents COVID‐19‐related changes in drinking among college student drinkers that were attributable to changes in context, particularly a shift away from heavy drinking with peers to lighter drinking with family. Given the continued threat of COVID‐19, it is imperative for researchers, administrators, and parents to understand these trends as they may have lasting effects on college student drinking behaviors.

Health Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life Among U.S. Adults Aged 18–64 Years

This study aims to (1) describe the prevalence and clustering of 3 health behaviors, (2) examine the association between individual health behaviors and health-related quality of life, and (3) explore the association between the clustering of the health behaviors and health-related quality of life. Investigators analyzed a sample of U.S. adults aged 18-64 years using data from the 2016-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey in March 2020. Logistic regression models examined the associations among 3 healthy behaviors (currently not smoking, physical activity, and nonheavy alcohol consumption) and 4 indicators of health-related quality of life (general health, physical health, mental health, and activity limitation). Alpha was set at 0.01. A total of 450,870 individuals were included in the analysis (weighted n=100,102,329). Of these, 82.0% were current nonsmokers, 92.8% were nonheavy drinkers, and 77.6% reported physical activity. The prevalence of having none, 1, 2, and 3 of the health behaviors was 0.7%, 7.7%, 30.1%, and 61.5%, respectively. Smoking status and physical activity status were significantly associated with all the 4 health-related quality of life indicators. Alcohol status was significantly associated with mental health and activity limitation. The associations demonstrated a higher health-related quality of life among individuals who reported healthy behaviors than among those who did not engage in healthy behaviors. Compared with respondents who reported none of the health behaviors, people with all 3 health behaviors were more likely to report higher health-related quality of life. Health behaviors were significantly associated with health-related quality of life among U.S. adults. Healthy behaviors should be encouraged because adopting these behaviors may contribute to a higher health-related quality of life.

Effect of a 1-year short message service in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients: a multi-center, open-label randomized controlled trial.

Existing evidence suggests that text message interventions can help people to reduce their alcohol consumption. However, studies with alcohol-dependent patients are lacking. In this study a 1-year automatic mobile phone-based short messaging service (SMS) intervention on alcohol consumption in patients after alcohol detoxification in hospital was compared with treatment as usual. Multi-center, randomized, controlled, two parallel-group, observer-blinded trial. Primary and secondary care: four hospitals and community (1million residents, 7600km2 area in Germany). A total of 462 patients with alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were included during inpatient detoxification treatment. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to an SMS intervention and treatment as usual (SMS+TAU; n=230; mean age: 45.4years; 22.6% women) or TAU alone (n=232 mean age: 44.5years; 22.8% women). Planned, automated messages were sent to patients over 1year to record assistance needs. A 'yes' or missing response triggered a telephone call from a hospital therapist. Outcome was assessed by an independent survey center. The primary end-point was a three-category alcohol consumption measure covering months 10-12 after discharge: abstinence, non-heavy drinking, heavy drinking [men >60g/day; women >40g/day equal to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: high risk and very high risk, mean consumption]. Secondary end-points were number of abstinent days over 12months and frequency of abstinence. The arms differed primarily in the heavy drinking category (intervention group 22.2%, TAU-only group 32.3%) in months 9-12. This is reflected by an odds ratio (OR)=1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.11-2.54, P=0.015 for heavy drinking versus non-heavy drinking/abstinence. No difference between treatments was found with respect to any drinking versus abstinence (OR=1.13). These results were confirmed by models adjusting for randomization strata. In Germany, a 12-month mobile phone short messaging service-based intervention enhanced the reduction in heavy drinking for 1year in routine care among adults with alcohol dependence discharged from inpatient alcohol detoxification.