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Alcoholism in older Korean men: prevalence, aetiology, and comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in urban and rural communities
Author(s) -
Kim JaeMin,
Shin IlSeon,
Stewart Robert,
Yoon JinSang
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.687
Subject(s) - dementia , comorbidity , etiology , population , rural population , medicine , psychiatry , rural area , gerontology , cognitive impairment , cognition , psychology , environmental health , disease , pathology
Background Alcoholism in the elderly has received little research, particularly outside ‘Western’ cultures. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and aetiology of alcoholism, and its comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in an older Korean population. Methods 1134 urban and rural community residents aged 65 or over were surveyed in Kwangju, South Korea. Alcoholism was identified by a culturally validated screening scale. Results Alcoholism was present in 16% of men and 2% of women. In men ( n = 457), alcoholism was positively associated with manual occupation and negatively with religions encouraging temperance. In the urban sample, alcoholism was associated with higher education and with dementia. In the rural sample, it was associated with lower education and less strongly with dementia. Conclusions The prevalence of alcoholism was high in this population. Associated factors and urban/rural differences reflect traditional attitudes toward drinking. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.