Increased Alcohol Consumption Among Swedish 70‐Year‐Olds 1976 to 2016: Analysis of Data from The Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies, Sweden

Abstract

Background The older adult population is increasing worldwide, as is the number of older adults who consume alcohol. Although there is a growing body of research on alcohol consumption among older people, few studies focus on changes in at‐risk consumption over time across well‐defined birth cohorts of older adults. Methods This study used a serial cross‐sectional design in order to compare alcohol consumption patterns among birth cohorts of Swedish 70‐year‐olds (total n = 2,268) examined in 1976 to 1977 (n = 393), 1992 to 1993 (n = 248), 2000 to 2002 (n = 458), and 2014 to 2016 (n = 1,169). Participants took part in a multidisciplinary study on health and aging. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted by healthcare professionals. Protocols regarding alcohol consumption were similar for all cohorts. The volume of weekly alcohol consumption was estimated during the past month. At‐risk consumption was defined as ≥100 g alcohol/wk corresponding roughly to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism definition of heavy consumption. Results The proportion of at‐risk consumers among men increased from 16.1% in 1976 to 1977 to 29.9% in 2000 to 2002 (p = 0.001) and 45.3% in 2014 to 2016 (p < 0.001). In women, proportions were low in 1976 to 1977 (0.5%) and 1992 to 1993 (2.0%; p = 0.134), but increased to 9.5% in 2000 to 2002 (p < 0.001) and 24.3% in 2014 to 2016 (p < 0.001). The male:female ratio regarding consumption of ≥100 g/wk decreased from 32.2:1 in 1976 to 1977 to 3.1:1 in 2000 to 2002 to 1.9:1 in 2014 to 2016. Spirit consumption decreased dramatically among men during the study period, while women reported very low spirit consumption at all examinations. Wine consumption increased in both sexes between 2000 to 2002 and 2014 to 2016. Beer consumption increased among men between 2000 to 2002 and 2014 to 2016. Conclusions Recent cohorts of 70‐year‐olds in Sweden report significantly higher levels of alcohol consumption than previous cohorts. There was a dramatic increase in at‐risk consumption among 70‐year‐olds from the 1970s to the mid‐2010s, and this was particularly pronounced among women.

Time trends in nutrient intake and dietary patterns among five birth cohorts of 70-year-olds examined 1971–2016: results from the Gothenburg H70 birth cohort studies, Sweden

“…The increase in alcohol intake was mainly due to an increase in wine and beer consumption, among both sexes. These results are in line with a previously published study examining risk consumption of alcohol, as reported from an interview by healthcare professionals, in the same population [57]. The results are also in line with “Riksmaten 2010–11” [36] and a report of self-reported alcohol intake in Sweden and might suggest a more continental and “quality of life” way of drinking [58, 59] in later born birth cohorts, which also partly follows other changes in dietary intake.…”

“Women of my age tend to drink”: the social construction of alcohol use by Australian and Danish women aged 50–70 years

“…A study of four birth cohorts (1906–1907, 1922, 1930 and 1944) of 70‐year‐old Swedish men and women found that at‐risk drinking (defined as ≥100 g/week) amongst both men and women increased substantially from 1976–1977, to 2014–2016 (Ahlner et al . : 2406), while at the same time “sex differences in alcohol consumption decreased” (p. 2406). Significantly, while at‐risk drinking was “almost negligible amongst 70‐year‐old women in 1976–1977,” by 2014–2016, approximately 25 per cent were drinking at this level (Ahlner et al .…”

“…Significantly, while at‐risk drinking was “almost negligible amongst 70‐year‐old women in 1976–1977,” by 2014–2016, approximately 25 per cent were drinking at this level (Ahlner et al . : 2406). Similarly, results from the US indicate that between 2001–2002 and 2012–2013 there was a 65 per cent increase in the rates of risky drinking (defined as consuming more than 56 g of alcohol per day) amongst women aged 65 and older, increasing from 2.3 to 3.8 per cent (Grant et al .…”

‘I wanted to talk about it, but I couldn’t’, an H70 focus group study about experiencing depression in early late life

“…In Sweden however, retirement has been shown to have limited [49] or positive [50] effects on well-being. In addition, findings from the H70 studies [30] have showed that successive birth cohorts of 70-year-olds are healthier and more active compared to prior generations [3,[51][52][53][54][55], with a higher anticipated life expectancy [56]. Therefore, our participants' expectations of postretirement health status may differ from those of earlier generations, as older adults of today are exposed to societal expectations of successful aging.…”