Alcohol use in the elderly: beyond the CAGE. Part 1 of 2: prevalence and patterns of problem drinking.

It has been estimated that 33% of adults age 65 and older have consumed alcohol during the preceding month; 25% of these drinkers (31% of men, 19% of women) drink daily and approximately 10% drink five drinks on one occasion. Alcohol misuse, with or without dependence, increases an older patient's risks of physical and mental problems. Yet hazardous drinking often is not identified in the elderly because ageism, denial, coexisting disabilities, and the unique pattern of late-onset drinking frequently mask its presence and complicate the diagnosis.