Prevalence and patterns of alcohol misuse in a community-dwelling elderly sample in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate prevalence and patterns of lifetime alcohol misuse. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 1,078 individuals aged 60 or more. Structured interview included sociodemographic, lifestyle, health data, and the five alcohol misuse screening questions of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of misuse was 6.5%. Men, aged 60 to 69, low educational level, separated/divorced, and tobacco smoking were independently associated with lifetime alcohol misuse. Odds ratios show increasing association with levels of alcohol misuse groups in males, low-educated, and tobacco users. Persons aged 60 to 69, 4 to 7 education years, and non-White ethnicity were significantly associated with the major alcohol misuse score. Discussion: Younger elderly were more exposed to alcohol than previous cohorts. Thus, problems with alcohol in old age will possibly increase as they grow older. The results of this study call attention to a field of lacking evidence in alcohol-related problems of older persons.