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1 february 2012
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Impact of alcohol use on mortality in the elderly: results from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of problematic drinking, amount of alcohol use and binge drinking on all-cause mortality in the elderly. METHODS: We investigated 45-month all-cause mortality of 997 randomly sampled community-dwelling elderly Koreans aged 65 years or older who participated in the Korean Longitudinal StudyIn a longitudinal study, researchers conduct several observations of the same participants over a pe... on Health and Aging. Problematic drinking was defined as having alcohol use disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria or having 8 or higher of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Light drinking was defined as drinking 7 alcoholic drinks or less, and heavy drinking as having 14 alcoholic drinks more per week during past 12 months. Binge drinkingBinge drinking (consuming rapidly four or more alcoholic drinks over a short period of time) has bee... was defined as having 6 or more drinks on a single occasion at least monthly. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen participants (11.3%) died during the 45-month follow-up period. Heavy drinking (>14 alcoholic drinks per week) increased the all-cause mortality risk when in association with problematic drinking (hazard ratio [HR]=2.604, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.221-5.553, p=0.012) or binge drinking (HR=2.823, 95% CI=1.259-6.328, p=0.013). Light drinking (</= 7 alcoholic drinks per week) was associated with decreased all-cause mortality (HR=0.114, 95% CI=0.015-0.833, p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Problematic drinking is associated with increased all-cause mortality in elderly Koreas, particularly when it is heavy and/or combined with binge drinking.

Additional Info

  • Authors

    Jeong H.G.; Kim T.H.; Lee J.J.; Lee S.B.; Park J.H.; Huh Y.; Chin H.J.; Jhoo J.H.; Lee D.Y.; Woo J.I.; Kim K.W.

  • Issue

    Drug Alcohol Depend. / pages 133-139 / volume 121

  • Published Date

    1 february 2012

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