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Drinking Patterns of Older Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions

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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Understanding alcohol consumption patterns of older adults with chronic illness is important given the aging baby boomer generation, the increase in prevalence of chronic conditions and associated medication use, and the potential consequences of excessive drinking in this population.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption patterns, including at-risk drinking, in older adults with at least one of seven common chronic conditions.

DESIGN/METHODS

This descriptive study used the nationally representative 2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey linked with Medicare claims. The sample included community-dwelling, fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older with one or more of seven chronic conditions (Alzheimer’s disease and other senile dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke; n = 7,422). Based on self-reported alcohol consumption, individuals were categorized as nondrinkers, within-guidelines drinkers, or at-risk drinkers (exceeds guidelines).

RESULTS

Overall, 30.9 % (CI 28.0–34.1 %) of older adults with at least one of seven chronic conditions reported alcohol consumption in a typical month in the past year, and 6.9 % (CI 6.0–7.8 %) reported at-risk drinking. Older adults with higher chronic disease burdens were less likely to report alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one-third of older adults with selected chronic illnesses report drinking alcohol and almost 7 % drink in excess of National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) guidelines. It is important for physicians and patients to discuss alcohol consumption as a component of chronic illness management. In cases of at-risk drinking, providers have an opportunity to provide brief intervention or to offer referrals if needed.

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Notes

  1. Total greater than 100 % as a result of rounding.

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Acknowledgements

Funding

This study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant 5R21AA015746.

Contributors

All listed authors made substantive contributions to the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.

There are no other individuals who made substantial contributions but do not meet criteria for authorship. The authors thank Michele Hutcheon for manuscript preparation.

Prior Presentations

Addiction Health Services Research Conference 10/18/12 NY.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS035, Waltham, MA, 02454-9110, USA

    Marian Ryan PhD, MPH, CHES, Elizabeth L. Merrick PhD, MSW, Dominic Hodgkin PhD, Constance M. Horgan ScD, Deborah W. Garnick ScD, Lee Panas MS & Grant Ritter PhD

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Frederic C. Blow PhD

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Frederic C. Blow PhD

  4. Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Richard Saitz MD, MPH

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Richard Saitz MD, MPH

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  1. Marian Ryan PhD, MPH, CHES
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  2. Elizabeth L. Merrick PhD, MSW
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  3. Dominic Hodgkin PhD
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  4. Constance M. Horgan ScD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marian Ryan PhD, MPH, CHES.

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Ryan, M., Merrick, E.L., Hodgkin, D. et al. Drinking Patterns of Older Adults with Chronic Medical Conditions. J GEN INTERN MED 28, 1326–1332 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-013-2409-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-013-2409-1

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