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Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among community‐dwelling older A ustralian men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project
Author(s) -
Ilomäki Jenni,
Gnjidic Danijela,
Le Couteur David G,
Bell J Simon,
Blyth Fiona M,
Handelsman David J,
Cumming Robert G,
Seibel Markus J,
Waite Louise M,
Naganathan Vasi,
Hilmer Sarah N
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12048
Subject(s) - binge drinking , medicine , polypharmacy , odds ratio , confidence interval , logistic regression , anxiety , environmental health , alcohol consumption , demography , odds , gerontology , alcohol , poison control , injury prevention , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry , sociology
Aim To describe the prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among older A ustralian men. Method Self‐reported alcohol and tobacco use was assessed among a random sample of community‐dwelling men aged ≥ 70 years living in S ydney ( n = 1705) from 2005 to 2007. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios ( ORs ) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs ) for factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use. Results The prevalence of heavy/excessive drinking was 19.2%, daily drinking 33.7%, and binge drinking 14.1%. Daily drinking was associated with chronic pain ( OR = 1.38, 95% CI : 1.07–1.78). Binge drinking was associated with anxiety ( OR = 1.93, 95% CI : 1.05–3.54) and being widowed ( OR = 1.74, 95% CI : 1.11–2.73). Six per cent of men were current smokers and 56.7% were former smokers. Former smoking was associated with polypharmacy ( OR = 1.47, 95% CI : 1.14–1.91) and each additional comorbid condition ( OR = 1.11, 95% CI : 1.03–1.19). Conclusions Nearly one‐fifth of older men drank heavily or excessively. This highlights the need for public health initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption in older people.