OBJECTIVES: This study focused on the associations between older adults' health-related problems and their late-life alcohol consumption and drinking problems. METHODS: A sample of 719 late-middle-aged community residents (55-65 years old at baseline) participated in a survey of health and alcohol consumption and this survey was followed 10 years and 20 years later. RESULTS: Health-related problems increased and alcohol consumption and drinking problems declined over the 20-year interval. Medical conditions, depressive symptoms, medication use, and acute health events were associated with a higher likelihood of abstinence; acute health events were also associated with less alcohol consumption. In contrast, reliance on alcohol to reduce pain was linked to more alcohol consumption. Moreover, an individual's overall health burden and reliance on alcohol to reduce pain were associated with more drinking problems. Reliance on alcohol to reduce pain potentiated the association between health burden, alcohol consumption and drinking problems. CONCLUSION: Older adults who have more health problems and rely on alcohol to manage pain are at elevated risk for drinking problems. Health care providers should target high-risk older adults, such as those who drink to reduce pain, for screening and brief interventions to help them identify new ways to cope with pain and curtail their drinking.
OBJECTIVES: This study focused on the associations between older adults' health-related problems and their late-life alcohol consumption and drinking problems. METHODS: A sample of 719 late-middle-aged community residents (55-65 years old at baseline) participated in a survey of health and alcohol consumption and this survey was followed 10 years and 20 years later. RESULTS: Health-related problems increased and alcohol consumption and drinking problems declined over the 20-year interval. Medical conditions, depressive symptoms, medication use, and acute health events were associated with a higher likelihood of abstinence; acute health events were also associated with less alcohol consumption. In contrast, reliance on alcohol to reduce pain was linked to more alcohol consumption. Moreover, an individual's overall health burden and reliance on alcohol to reduce pain were associated with more drinking problems. Reliance on alcohol to reduce pain potentiated the association between health burden, alcohol consumption and drinking problems. CONCLUSION: Older adults who have more health problems and rely on alcohol to manage pain are at elevated risk for drinking problems. Health care providers should target high-risk older adults, such as those who drink to reduce pain, for screening and brief interventions to help them identify new ways to cope with pain and curtail their drinking.
Authors: Cielito C Reyes-Gibby; Karen O Anderson; Kelly W Merriman; Knox H Todd; Sanjay S Shete; Ehab Y Hanna Journal: J Pain Date: 2014-07-17 Impact factor: 5.820
Authors: Jenna Borok; Peter Galier; Matteo Dinolfo; Sandra Welgreen; Marc Hoffing; James W Davis; Karina D Ramirez; Diana H Liao; Lingqi Tang; Mitch Karno; Paul Sacco; James C Lin; Alison A Moore Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2013-07-26 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Mark S Kaplan; Nathalie Huguet; David Feeny; Bentson H McFarland; Raul Caetano; Julie Bernier; Norman Giesbrecht; Lisa Oliver; Nancy Ross Journal: J Stud Alcohol Drugs Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 2.582
Authors: Linda K McEvoy; Donna Kritz-Silverstein; Elizabeth Barrett-Connor; Jaclyn Bergstrom; Gail A Laughlin Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2013-07-18 Impact factor: 5.562