Historique
Article de Périodique
Differences in alcohol use between younger and older people: Results from a general population study (2019)
Auteur(s) :
VEERBEEK, M. A. ;
TEN HAVE, M. ;
VAN DORSSELAER, S. A. ;
OUDE VOSHAAR, R. C. ;
RHEBERGEN, D. ;
WILLEMSE, B. M.
Année
2019
Page(s) :
18-23
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Alcool / Alcohol
Discipline :
EPI (Epidémiologie / Epidemiology)
Thésaurus géographique
PAYS-BAS
Thésaurus mots-clés
ALCOOL
;
AGE
;
COMPARAISON
;
ADULTE
;
PERSONNE AGEE
;
NIVEAU D'ETUDES
;
ABUS
;
PREVALENCE
;
USAGE PROBLEMATIQUE
;
FACTEUR DE RISQUE
;
MORBIDITE
Résumé :
Background: Prevention of problematic alcohol use is mainly focused on younger adults, while heavy drinking in middle-aged and older adults might be more frequent with more impact on functioning and health care use. Therefore, alcohol use and alcohol disorder in both age groups was compared. To facilitate age-specific prevention, it was examined whether risk factors of heavy drinking and impact on functioning and health care use differs across the life-span.
Methods: Data of people (23-70 years) were used from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (N = 4618), a general population-based cohort. Heavy alcohol use was defined as >14 drinks/week for women and >21 drinks/week for men. Alcohol disorder was defined as DSM-IV disorder of alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence. (Multinomial) logistic regression analyses were used to study risk factors of alcohol use and associations between alcohol use and health care use and functioning.
Results: The past-year prevalence of heavy alcohol was higher in older (55-70 years) compared to younger people (6.7% versus 3.8%), whereas alcohol disorder was less prevalent (1.3% versus 3.9%). Heavy alcohol use was associated with higher level of education in older adults compared to younger adults. Other characteristics of problematic alcohol use and its impact on functioning and health care use did not differ between age groups.
Conclusions: Heavy drinking is more prevalent among middle-aged and older people. Contrary to younger adults, prevention of heavy alcohol use in those aged 55-70 should focus on higher educated people.
Highlights:
Heavy drinking is more prevalent in people aged 55-70 compared to those aged 23-54.
Level of education of heavy drinkers differs between these age groups.
In those aged 55-70 heavy drinking prevention should focus on the higher educated.
Methods: Data of people (23-70 years) were used from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (N = 4618), a general population-based cohort. Heavy alcohol use was defined as >14 drinks/week for women and >21 drinks/week for men. Alcohol disorder was defined as DSM-IV disorder of alcohol abuse and/or alcohol dependence. (Multinomial) logistic regression analyses were used to study risk factors of alcohol use and associations between alcohol use and health care use and functioning.
Results: The past-year prevalence of heavy alcohol was higher in older (55-70 years) compared to younger people (6.7% versus 3.8%), whereas alcohol disorder was less prevalent (1.3% versus 3.9%). Heavy alcohol use was associated with higher level of education in older adults compared to younger adults. Other characteristics of problematic alcohol use and its impact on functioning and health care use did not differ between age groups.
Conclusions: Heavy drinking is more prevalent among middle-aged and older people. Contrary to younger adults, prevention of heavy alcohol use in those aged 55-70 should focus on higher educated people.
Highlights:
Heavy drinking is more prevalent in people aged 55-70 compared to those aged 23-54.
Level of education of heavy drinkers differs between these age groups.
In those aged 55-70 heavy drinking prevention should focus on the higher educated.
Affiliation :
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands