OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the well-known U-shaped relationship between average alcohol intake and mortality also holds for other health measures and for aspects of drinking other than weekly average alcohol intake, such as frequency of heavy-drinking episodes. METHOD: This study was carried out within the framework of a general population survey conducted in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N = 18,973). Apart from mortality, the following health measures were considered: self-assessed health (based on perceived general health and the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire), a list of chronic conditions and a list of health complaints. Respondents were categorized as abstainers, light (1-14 units/week), moderate (15-28 units/week) and excessive drinkers (> or =29 units/week). Information on the frequency with which heavy-drinking episodes occurred was also available. RESULTS: Light or moderate drinkers had not only lower mortality but other health burdens were lower than for either abstainers or heavier drinkers. Frequent heavy-drinking episodes were observed to be directly related to increased mortality rates, although not significantly. A trend was observed for drinkers reporting seldom heavy-drinking episodes (once or twice in the previous 6 months) to report less health burdens and to have lower mortality rates than those reporting no heavy drinking episodes. CONCLUSIONS: A U-shaped pattern was observed for mortality as well as for several other health measures. Frequent heavy-drinking episodes were related to an increased likelihood of mortality (not significant but suggesting a J-shaped pattern) and were not related to other health measures.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the well-known U-shaped relationship between average alcohol intake and mortality also holds for other health measures and for aspects of drinking other than weekly average alcohol intake, such as frequency of heavy-drinking episodes. METHOD: This study was carried out within the framework of a general population survey conducted in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N = 18,973). Apart from mortality, the following health measures were considered: self-assessed health (based on perceived general health and the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire), a list of chronic conditions and a list of health complaints. Respondents were categorized as abstainers, light (1-14 units/week), moderate (15-28 units/week) and excessive drinkers (> or =29 units/week). Information on the frequency with which heavy-drinking episodes occurred was also available. RESULTS: Light or moderate drinkers had not only lower mortality but other health burdens were lower than for either abstainers or heavier drinkers. Frequent heavy-drinking episodes were observed to be directly related to increased mortality rates, although not significantly. A trend was observed for drinkers reporting seldom heavy-drinking episodes (once or twice in the previous 6 months) to report less health burdens and to have lower mortality rates than those reporting no heavy drinking episodes. CONCLUSIONS: A U-shaped pattern was observed for mortality as well as for several other health measures. Frequent heavy-drinking episodes were related to an increased likelihood of mortality (not significant but suggesting a J-shaped pattern) and were not related to other health measures.
Authors: Patrick S Calhoun; Sarah M Wilson; Eric A Dedert; Katherine C Cunningham; Thomas K Burroughs; Terrell A Hicks; Jean C Beckham; Harold S Kudler; Kristy Straits-Troster Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2017-09-28 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Yuri L Dorokhov; Tatiana V Komarova; Igor V Petrunia; Vyacheslav S Kosorukov; Roman A Zinovkin; Anastasia V Shindyapina; Olga Y Frolova; Yuri Y Gleba Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-04-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Anastasia V Shindyapina; Igor V Petrunia; Tatiana V Komarova; Ekaterina V Sheshukova; Vyacheslav S Kosorukov; Gleb I Kiryanov; Yuri L Dorokhov Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-07-17 Impact factor: 3.240