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Relationship of Phosphatidylethanol Biomarker to Self‐Reported Alcohol Drinking Patterns in Older and Middle‐Age Adults
Author(s) -
Cherrier Monique M.,
Shireman Laura M.,
Wicklander Katie,
Yeung Winnie,
Kooner Preetma,
Saxon Andrew J.,
Simpson Tracy,
Terman Greg,
Shen Danny
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.14475
Subject(s) - phosphatidylethanol , alcohol use disorders identification test , alcohol , middle age , medicine , alcohol consumption , young adult , mood , environmental health , demography , gerontology , injury prevention , poison control , psychiatry , chemistry , phospholipid , biochemistry , membrane , phosphatidylcholine , sociology , genetics , biology
Background Risky alcohol consumption is on the rise among older adults. Biomarkers such as phosphatidylethanol (PEth) have been used to evaluate the correspondence between an objective, laboratory‐based biomarker and self‐report of alcohol consumption. This study examined the relationship between PEth, self‐report of alcohol consumption, and health indices in a sample of community‐dwelling older to middle‐age adults (aged 35 to 89) with healthy and risky levels of alcohol consumption. Methods Self‐reports of alcohol consumption were collected using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Form 30. In addition, indices of health along with a blood sample to determine PEth values were collected ( N = 183). Results PEth was correlated with age, AUDIT‐C, AUDIT total, alcohol consumption, mood, and liver function measures but not with medical comorbidity or body mass index (J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 73, 2018, 633). Alcohol consumption over the past 30 days measured with Form 30 was the strongest predictor of PEth levels for both middle‐age and older adults, with age a small contributing predictor. General alcohol consumption patterns for amount of alcohol consumed over a 30‐day period revealed middle‐age adults consumed larger amounts of alcohol compared with older adults, but older adults consumed alcohol on more days than middle‐age adults. Middle‐age participants evidenced higher PEth levels than older adults at comparable drinking rates. Conclusions Overall, findings suggest a strong relationship between alcohol consumption and PEth levels with age a small but contributing factor to predicting PEth levels.