Sex differences in at-risk drinking and associated factors–a cross-sectional study of 8,616 community-dwelling adults 60 years and older: the Tromsø study, 2015-16

• Main Authors: Stelander, Line Tegner, Høye, Anne, Bramness, Jørgen G., Wynn, Rolf, Grønli, Ole Kristian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2022
• Subjects: Medicine; Biotechnology; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Cancer; Science Policy; 111714 Mental Health; FOS Health sciences; 110309 Infectious Diseases; Norway; Tromsø
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5870686; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Sex_differences_in_at-risk_drinking_and_associated_factors_a_cross-sectional_study_of_8_616_community-dwelling_adults_60_years_and_older_the_Troms_study_2015-16/5870686

Abstract Background Alcohol consumption among older adults is on the rise, which may be an increasing public health concern. The proportion of older adults who drink above defined low-risk drinking limits, associated characteristics and the sex distribution of at-risk drinking vary across countries. The aims of this study were to (i) estimate the prevalence of at-risk drinking among older adults in Norway, (ii) investigate factors associated with at-risk drinking, and (iii) examine sex differences in alcohol consumption in the context of sociodemographic and selected health characteristics. Method A cross-sectional study based on Tromsø 7 (2015–16), an ongoing population-based cohort survey. Data were retrieved from participants aged 60 and older (60-99 years) who answered questions about alcohol consumption (n = 8,616). Sex-stratified logistic regressions were used to assess the association between three at-risk drinking outcome variables, and sociodemographic and selected health characteristics. The outcome variables were operationalized using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and Alcohol Consumption Questions (AUDIT-C), i.e. – cut off for at risk drinking, drinking any 6+ in the past year, and any alcohol problems. Results The overall prevalence of at-risk drinking among those aged 60-99 years was equal in women and men; 44% and 46%, respectively. At-risk drinking was strongly associated with a higher level of education, with OR 2.65 (CI 2.28-3.10) in women and OR 1.73 (CI 1.48-2.04) in men. Conclusions Almost half of older adults in Norway exceeded sex- and older adult-specific at-risk drinking thresholds. Our findings suggest some differences in factors associated with at-risk drinking between women and men. Explicitly, at-risk drinking was associated with very good health, living with a spouse or partner, and having adequate social support in women, while it was associated with the use of sleeping pills in men. Our findings suggest that women exceed at-risk drinking thresholds with better health, while men exceed at-risk drinking thresholds regardless of good or poor health.