Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16

Ahlner, Felicia; Falk Erhag, Hanna; Johansson, Lena; Mellqvist Fässberg, Madeleine; Rydberg Sterner, Therese; Samuelsson, Jessica; Zettergren, Anna; Waern, Margda; Skoog, Ingmar

doi:10.3390/ijerph19148248

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16

by

Felicia Ahlner

^1,*

,

Hanna Falk Erhag

¹

,

Lena Johansson

¹

,

Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg

¹

,

Therese Rydberg Sterner

^1,2

,

Jessica Samuelsson

¹

,

Anna Zettergren

¹

,

Margda Waern

^1,3

and

Ingmar Skoog

^1,4

¹

Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP), University of Gothenburg, 43141 Mölndal, Sweden

²

Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, 17165 Solna, Sweden

³

Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychosis Clinic, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden

⁴

Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatry, Cognition and Old Age Psychiatry Clinic, 43141 Mölndal, Sweden

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148248

Submission received: 31 May 2022 / Revised: 27 June 2022 / Accepted: 5 July 2022 / Published: 6 July 2022

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Determinants of Alcohol Use and Its Consequences)

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Abstract

Older adults of today consume more alcohol, yet knowledge about the factors associated with different consumption levels is limited in this age group. Based on the data from a population-based sample (n = 1156, 539 men and 617 women) in The Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16, we examined sociodemographic, social, and health-related factors associated with alcohol consumption levels in 70-year-olds, using logistic regression. Total weekly alcohol intake was calculated based on the self-reported amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol consumption was categorized as lifetime abstention, former drinking, moderate consumption (≤98 g/week), and at-risk consumption (>98 g/week). At-risk consumption was further categorized into lower at-risk (98–196 g/week), medium at-risk (196–350 g/week), and higher at-risk (≥350 g/week). We found that among the 1156 participants, 3% were lifetime abstainers, 3% were former drinkers, 64% were moderate drinkers, and 30% were at-risk drinkers (20% lower, 8% medium, 2% higher). Among several factors, former drinking was associated with worse general self-rated health (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.08–2.51) and lower health-related quality of life (measured by physical component score) (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.97), higher illness burden (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.27), and weaker grip strength (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98). Higher at-risk drinkers more often had liver disease (OR 11.41, 95% CI 3.48–37.37) and minor depression (OR 4.57, 95% CI 1.40–14.95), but less contacts with health care (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.92). Our findings demonstrate the importance of classifications beyond abstinence and at-risk consumption, with implications for both the prevention and clinical management of unhealthy consumption patterns in older adults.

Keywords: alcohol use; determinants; characteristics; associated factors; older adults

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ahlner, F.; Falk Erhag, H.; Johansson, L.; Mellqvist Fässberg, M.; Rydberg Sterner, T.; Samuelsson, J.; Zettergren, A.; Waern, M.; Skoog, I. Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 8248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148248

AMA Style

Ahlner F, Falk Erhag H, Johansson L, Mellqvist Fässberg M, Rydberg Sterner T, Samuelsson J, Zettergren A, Waern M, Skoog I. Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(14):8248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148248

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ahlner, Felicia, Hanna Falk Erhag, Lena Johansson, Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg, Therese Rydberg Sterner, Jessica Samuelsson, Anna Zettergren, Margda Waern, and Ingmar Skoog. 2022. "Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 14: 8248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148248

APA Style

Ahlner, F., Falk Erhag, H., Johansson, L., Mellqvist Fässberg, M., Rydberg Sterner, T., Samuelsson, J., Zettergren, A., Waern, M., & Skoog, I. (2022). Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8248. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148248

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Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Factors in a Population-Based Sample of 70-Year-Olds: Data from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study 2014–16

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