Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2022 | Public Health | Research
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
Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2022
Login to get accessAbstract
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.