Alcohol use disorders in older people

Abstract

The number of people aged 65 years or more is increasing worldwide. Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are a common condition in the older population, and this combined with the changing age demographic in the population means that AUD in this population is a significant public health concern. AUD has a major impact upon the physical, psychological and social health of the older population. There is evidence that older people do benefit from interventions to reduce alcohol consumption as much as, if not more than, younger populations. There is evidence that AUD in the older population often goes undetected and the potential for beneficial behavioural health change is not realized.

Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Opportunistic Screening and Stepped-care Interventions for Older Alcohol Users in Primary Care

“…It is estimated to account for 150 000 hospital admissions and up to 22 000 deaths annually in the United Kingdom (Academy of Medical Sciences, 2004). In the older population, those aged 55 years or more, alcohol consumption is associated with an array of physical, psychological and social problems (Coulton, 2009). There is evidence of an association between increased alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease, hypertension, haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke, alcoholic liver disease and a range of cancers (Department of Health, 1995).…”