Factors associated with elevated consumption of alcohol in older adults—comparison between China and Norway: the CLHLS and the HUNT Study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe primary objective was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with elevated alcohol consumption among older adults 65 years and above in China and Norway. The secondary objective was to compare the prevalence and factors in the two countries.DesignA secondary data analysis was conducted using two large cross-sectional studies (Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey data in 2008–2009 and Nord-Trøndelag Health Study data in 2006–2008).ParticipantsA total of 3223 (weighted) Chinese older adults and 6210 Norwegian older adults who responded drinking alcohol were included in the analysis.Outcome measuresThe dependent variable was elevated alcohol consumption, which was calculated as a ratio of those with elevated drinking among current drinkers. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the dependent variable.ResultsThe prevalence of elevated alcohol consumption among current drinkers for the Chinese and Norwegian samples were 78.3% (weighted) and 5.1%, respectively. Being male was related to a higher likelihood of elevated alcohol consumption in both Chinese and Norwegian samples (OR=2.729, 95% CI 2.124 to 3.506, OR=2.638, 95% CI 1.942 to 3.585). Being older, with higher levels of education and a living spouse or partner were less likely to have elevated drinking in the Chinese sample (OR=0.497, 95% CI 0.312 to 0.794, OR=0.411, 95% CI 0.260 to 0.649, OR=0.533, 95% CI 0.417 to 0.682, respectively). Among Norwegian older adults, a higher level of education was related to higher likelihood of elevated drinking (OR=1.503, 95% CI 1.092 to 2.069, OR=3.020, 95% CI 2.185 to 4.175). Living in rural areas and higher life satisfaction were related to lower likelihood of elevated drinking in the Norwegian sample (OR=0.739, 95% CI 0.554 to 0.984, OR=0.844, 95% CI 0.729 to 0.977, respectively).ConclusionsThe elevated alcohol consumption patterns were strikingly different between China and Norway in regards to prevalence and socioeconomic distribution. To develop and implement culturally appropriate public health policies regarding alcohol in the future, public health policy makers and professionals need to be aware of the cultural differences and consider the demographic, social and economic characteristics of their intended population.

Elevated alcohol consumption among geriatric psychiatric in-patients

“…The prevalence of reported elevated alcohol consumption was considerably high in older psychiatry patients and higher compared to what is reported in Norwegian population-based studies (Li et al, 2019;Tevik et al, 2017). However, the prevalence in the present study (27%) was in line with the prevalence found in a previous Norwegian study (23%), including comparable patients (Johannessen, Engedal, Larsen et al, 2017).…”

“…In this context, there is also a gender perspective, but women today have moved more towards men's patterns of drinking (Bratberg et al, 2016). Lastly, regular, frequent and elevated alcohol consumption are in general found to be associated with a higher level of education (Johannessen, Engedal, Larsen, Stelander, & Helvik, 2017;Li, Wu, Selbaek, Krokstad, & Helvik, 2017;Li, Wu, Tevik, Krokstad, & Helvik, 2019;Tevik et al, 2019).…”

Hazardous alcohol consumption among older adults: A comprehensive and multi-national analysis of predictive factors in 13,351 individuals

“…A possible explanation for this association between educational status and alcohol consumption has previously been provided by Li et al [17]: in western societies, educational status correlates with socioeconomic status and older, higher educated people are more likely to afford alcohol and to engage in social drinking. Furthermore, this association was also reported in a recent survey among more than 5,000 Norwegian adults, where higher education attainment as well as being of a younger age were found to be positively associated with alcohol-related work-impairment [53].…”

“…It is known from previous studies that individual alcohol consumption patterns are influenced by specific factors, including socio-economic, socio-demographic, biographical characteristics (e.g. stressful life events) and personality traits [3,[14][15][16][17]. However, research on potential risk factors for alcohol consumption within the elderly population is scarce.…”

Alcohol consumption among older adults with symptoms of cognitive decline consulting specialist health care

“…Apart from the mere ease of remembering less consumption, there may be other explanations for why agreement is higher when there is little consumption. For instance, restraint in alcohol consumption can be traced to a host of cultural (Dawson et al, 1995;Galvan & Caetano, 2003;Li et al, 2019;Livingston et al, 2020, p. 11;Vedøy & Amundsen, 2008) and health-related factors (Fillmore et al, 2007;Hassing, 2018;Stockwell et al, 2016;Tevik et al, 2019aTevik et al, , 2019b, which a next of kin is likely aware of. Another noteworthy finding is that agreement was higher for the category '4-7 times a week' than for all other categories except the category 'Not at all last year or ever' .…”