Effects of age and gender on the relationship between alcohol use disorder and somatic diseases: a national register study in Norway

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine how age and gender moderate the associations between alcohol use disorders (AUD) and several somatic diseases.Design and settingWe performed a retrospective, register-based cohort study with 6-year follow-up of patients with AUD and the general population. Data were acquired from the Norwegian Patient Registry. Cox regressions were used to estimate HRs of somatic diseases.ParticipantsPatients with AUD (17 023; 0.4%) were compared with the population without AUD (4 271 559; 99.6%), with adults aged 18 years or older who were registered residents of Norway on 1 January 2008.Main outcomesDichotomous variables of 12 specific somatic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases) were assessed. Diagnoses were set in specialist healthcare services.ResultsPatients with AUD, compared with a population without AUD, experienced a significantly greater burden of all studied somatic diseases. Middle-aged adults with AUD had increased risks (p<0.05) for hypertension; ischaemic diseases; pulmonary diseases; cerebrovascular diseases; malnutrition; metabolic disorders; cancer; and influenza and pneumonia than younger and older adults with AUD. For most somatic diseases, we found no differences between younger versus older adults with AUD, and between females versus males with AUD (p>0.05). Males with AUD had significantly higher risks for pulmonary heart diseases (HR=3.9, 95% CI 3.3 to 4.6) and metabolic disorders (HR 4.7, 95% CI 4.5 to 5.0), while females with AUD had a significantly higher risk for viral hepatitis (HR=4.4, 95% CI 3.8 to 5.1).ConclusionsAge moderated the associations between AUD and most somatic diseases, with middle-aged adults with AUD having a greater increased risk of somatic diseases compared with younger and older adults with AUD. Gender only moderated associations between AUD and pulmonary heart diseases, metabolic disorders and viral hepatitis. This has implications for the prioritisation of somatic resources among patients with AUD.

The impact of PTSD on risk of cardiometabolic diseases: a national patient cohort study in Norway

“…Estimated prevalence for co-occurring AUD range between 13% in Denmark to 55% in USA [ 14 – 16 ], while for co-occurring major depressive disorder and anxiety, the prevalence is estimated to be 52% and 49%, respectively [ 13 , 14 ]. Both anxiety, AUD, and depressive disorders are in turn associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases [ 17 – 19 ]. However, research on the effect of comorbid AUD on the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases in people with PTSD is so far limited, and the majority of studied populations regarding impacts of comorbid depression on the association between PTSD and cardiometabolic diseases consist of war veterans and military service personnel.…”

Withdrawal syndrome and comorbidity in alcohol use disorder

“…cerebrovascular, pulmonary and metabolic disorders) and psychiatric disorders (e.g. personality disorders, internalizing disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders and other addictive disorders) (Abebe et al, 2021;Castillo-Carniglia et al, 2019). The co-occurrence of AUD and behavior addictions (e.g.…”