Work

Alcohol Consumption, Medical Conditions, and Health Behavior in Older Adults

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between drinking patterns, medical conditions, and behavioral health risks among older adults. METHODS: Analyses compared survey participants (health plan members ages 65 to 90, N = 6662) who drank moderately to those who drank over recommended limits or did not drink. RESULTS: Overlimit drinking was associated with smoking; not trying to eat low-fat foods (in men), and lower BMI (in women). Predictors of not drinking during the prior 12 months included ethnicity, lower education, worse self-reported health, diabetes and heart problems. CONCLUSIONS: Significant relationships exist between health and alcohol consumption patterns, which vary by gender.

Source: American Journal of Health Behavior

DOI: 10.5993/ajhb.31.3.2

Authors: Derek D. Satre, Nancy P. Gordon, Constance Weisner

Institutions: Kaiser Permanente, University of California, San Francisco, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Language: English

Topic: Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Kaiser Permanente, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism