Functional limitations, socioeconomic status, and all-cause mortality in moderate alcohol drinkers.

TitleFunctional limitations, socioeconomic status, and all-cause mortality in moderate alcohol drinkers.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsLee, SJ, Sudore, RL, Williams, BA, Lindquist, K, Chen, HL, Covinsky, KE
JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Volume57
Issue6
Pagination955-62
Date Published2009 Jun
ISSN Number1532-5415
Call Numbernewpubs20090908_Lee_etal.pdf
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Comorbidity, Education, Female, Humans, Income, Male, Obesity, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Smoking, Socioeconomic factors
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the survival benefit associated with moderate alcohol use remains after accounting for nontraditional risk factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and functional limitations.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort.

SETTING: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of U.S. adults aged 55 and older.

PARTICIPANTS: Twelve thousand five hundred nineteen participants were enrolled in the 2002 wave of the HRS.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants were asked about their alcohol use, functional limitations (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and mobility), SES (education, income, and wealth), psychosocial factors (depressive symptoms, social support, and the importance of religion), age, sex, race and ethnicity, smoking, obesity, and comorbidities. Death by December 31, 2006, was the outcome measure.

RESULTS: Moderate drinkers (1 drink/d) had a markedly more-favorable risk factor profile, with higher SES and fewer functional limitations. After adjusting for demographic factors, moderate drinking (vs no drinking) was strongly associated with less mortality (odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.40-0.62). When traditional risk factors (smoking, obesity, and comorbidities) were also adjusted for, the protective effect was slightly attenuated (OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.46-0.72). When all risk factors including functional status and SES were adjusted for, the protective effect was markedly attenuated but still statistically significant (OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.57-0.91).

CONCLUSION: Moderate drinkers have better risk factor profiles than nondrinkers, including higher SES and fewer functional limitations. Although these factors explain much of the survival advantage associated with moderate alcohol use, moderate drinkers maintain their survival advantage even after adjustment for these factors.

DOI10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02184.x
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19473456?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Alcohol Drinking/socioeconomic status/ADL and IADL Impairments/Mobility/Survival Analysis

Endnote ID

20510

Alternate JournalJ Am Geriatr Soc
Citation Key7325
PubMed ID19473456
PubMed Central IDPMC2847409
Grant ListL30 AG030755-02 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
KL2 RR024130 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG023626 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
L30 AG030755 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG023626 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K24 AG029812 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
KL2RR024130 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
KL2 RR024130-04 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
U01AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K24-AG029812 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States