Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among community‐dwelling older Australian men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. (5th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ilomäki, Jenni; Gnjidic, Danijela; Le Couteur, David G; Bell, J Simon; Blyth, Fiona M; Handelsman, David J; Cumming, Robert G; Seibel, Markus J; Waite, Louise M; Naganathan, Vasi; Hilmer, Sarah N
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 33:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 192
• Publication Date: 2013-06-05
• Subjects: Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajag12048-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To describe the prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among older Australian men.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12048-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Self‐reported alcohol and tobacco use was assessed among a random sample of community‐dwelling men aged <italic>≥</italic>70 years living in Sydney (<italic>n =</italic> 1705) from 2005 to 2007. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12048-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The prevalence of heavy/excessive drinking was 19.2%, daily drinking 33.7%, and binge drinking 14.1%. Daily drinking was associated with chronic pain (OR <italic>=</italic> 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07–1.78). Binge drinking was associated with anxiety (OR <italic>=</italic> 1.93, 95% CI: 1.05–3.54) and being widowed (OR <italic>=</italic> 1.74, 95% CI: 1.11–2.73). Six per cent of men were current smokers and 56.7% were former smokers. Former smoking was associated with polypharmacy (OR <italic>=</italic> 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14–1.91) and each additional comorbid condition (OR <italic>=</italic> 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03–1.19).</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12048-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Nearly one‐fifth of older men drank heavily or excessively. This highlights the need for public health initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption in older people.</p> </sec> </abstract>