@article {6806, title = {Excess Alcohol Consumption and Health Outcomes: A 6-Year Follow-Up of Men Over Age 50 from the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Addiction}, volume = {97}, year = {2002}, pages = {301-310}, publisher = {97}, abstract = {Aims This study examined the association of problem drinking history and alcohol consumption with the onset of several health conditions and death over a 6-year follow-up period. Setting We analyzed two waves of longitudinal data on men over 50 who participated in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of people aged 51 61 and their spouses living in the United States in 1992. Measurements Five types of health outcomes mortality, general health, functional status, cognitive status, and mental health were examined. Drinking categories were based on average drinks per day (0, 1, 1 2, 3 4, 5 ), with 5 defined as very heavy drinking . Problem drinking history was identified as 2 affirmative responses to the CAGE questionnaire. We controlled for smoking and other factors at baseline. Findings Over the 6-year follow-up period, very heavy drinking at baseline quadrupled the risk of developing functional impairments (OR: 4.21 95 CI: 1.67, 10.61). A problem drinking history increased the onset of depression (OR: 1.67 95 CI: 1.02, 2.74), psychiatric problems (OR: 2.15 95 CI: 1.47, 3.13) and memory problems (OR: 1.71 95 CI: 1.14, 2.56). Heavy drinking among mature adults was not associated with increased incidence of other adverse health events (i.e. angina, cancer, congestive heart failure, diabetes, myocardial infraction, lung disease or stroke). Conclusion Very heavy drinking and a problem drinking history greatly increased rates of onset of functional impairments, psychiatric problems and memory loss in late middle age for men who had not experienced these impairments at their initial interview.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status}, author = {Perreira, Krista M. and Frank A Sloan} } @article {6733, title = {Life events and alcohol consumption among mature adults: a longitudinal analysis.}, journal = {J Stud Alcohol}, volume = {62}, year = {2001}, month = {2001 Jul}, pages = {501-8}, publisher = {62}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Four waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used to examine changes in alcohol consumption co-occurring and following stress associated with major health, family and employment events.

METHOD: The final sample consisted of 7,731 (3,907 male) individuals between the ages of 51 and 61 at baseline. We used multinomial logit analysis to study associations between important life events and changes in alcohol consumption over a 6-year study period. Interactions between stressful life events, gender and problem drinking were also evaluated.

RESULTS: Most persons (68\%) did not change their use of alcohol over the entire 6 years. Hospitalization and onset of a chronic condition were associated with decreased drinking levels. Retirement was associated with increased drinking. Widowhood was associated with increased drinking but only for a short time. Getting married or divorced was associated with both increases and decreases in drinking, with a complex lag structure. A history of problem drinking influenced the association between certain life events (e.g., divorce and retirement) and changes in drinking. Gender modified the association between losing a spouse and changes in drinking.

CONCLUSIONS: Even after controlling for problem drinking history, social support and coping skills, changes in drinking behavior were related to several life events occurring over a 6-year period for a national cohort of individuals in late middle-age. The magnitude of these relationships, however, varied by gender and problem drinking history.

}, keywords = {Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Employment, Family, Health Status, Humans, Life Change Events, Longitudinal Studies, Middle Aged, Social Support, Stress, Psychological}, issn = {0096-882X}, doi = {10.15288/jsa.2001.62.501}, author = {Perreira, Krista M. and Frank A Sloan} }