Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Factors Among Elderly in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of alcohol use disorder among the elderly living in 3 towns in South West Ethiopia. Method: Cross-sectional community-based study was done among 382 elderly people aged 60 or more from February to March 2022 in South West Ethiopia. The participants were selected by a systematic random sampling method. Alcohol use disorder, quality of sleep, cognitive impairment, and depression were assessed by using AUDIT, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Standardized Mini Mental State Examination, and geriatric depression scale, respectively. Also, suicidal behavior, elder abuse, and other clinical and environmental factors were assessed. The data was entered into Epi Data Manager Version 4.0.2 before being exported to SPSS Version 25 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used, and variables with a P-value less than .05 in the final fitting model were stated as independent predictors of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Result: The magnitude of alcohol use disorder, current alcohol use, and life-time alcohol use among the elderly was 27.5%, 52.4%, and 89.3%, respectively. Also, 7%, 23%, 8.9%, and none of the elderly had nicotine, khat, inhalants, and cannabis use disorder, respectively. Furthermore, AUD was associated with cognitive impairment (AOR, 95% CI; 2.79 (1.47-5.30)), poor sleep quality (AOR, 95% CI; 3.27 (1.23-8.69)), chronic medical illness (AOR, 95% CI; 2.12 (1.20-3.74)), and suicidal ideation (AOR, 95% CI; 5.27 (2.21-12.60)). Conclusion: Problematic alcohol use was higher among the elderly, and cognitive impairment, poor sleep quality, having chronic medical illness, and suicidal ideation were risk factors for AUD. Therefore, community level screening for AUD and comorbid risk factors among this particular age group and managing them is crucial to prevent further complications due to AUD.

Scoping review of assessment tools for, magnitudes of and factors associated with problem drinking in population-based studies

“…Only one HIC study found associations between medical problems like higher body mass index and being non-diabetic than diabetic 39 and problem drinking. In contrast, eight studies from LMICs found associations between medical problems like chronic disease, 63 92 high blood pressure, 91 122 obesity, 93 self-reported physical comorbidities, 112 traffic injury 130 and problem drinking. Only a few studies from LMICs found associations between problem drinking and less psychosocial support, 59 117 118 more impaired functioning, disability, poorer quality of life, cognitive impairment and poor sleep quality.…”

“…Hazardous/harmful alcohol use, also known as harmful/hazardous drinking, probable AUD, risky alcohol use, high-risk drinking, or hazardous, harmful, or dependent alcohol use, was defined as a score of ≥8 on the AUDIT in most studies including studies conducted in New Zealand, 53 Norway, 55 Brazil, 107 108 South Africa, 61 101 India, 109–112 Kenya, 113 Uganda, 114 Nepal, 115 Ethiopia, 63 116–118 Malaysia, 89 Thailand 90 119 and Suriname. 60 This definition is in keeping with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended cut-offs for problem drinking on the AUDIT.…”

“…Only a few studies from LMICs found associations between problem drinking and less psychosocial support, 59 117 118 more impaired functioning, disability, poorer quality of life, cognitive impairment and poor sleep quality. 63 98 111 115 116 In terms of other substance use factors, 7 studies were conducted in HICs, 33–35 69 73 76 77 and 17 studies from LMICs 50 57 61 62 79 92 93 103 105–107 112 115 117 118 126 127 reported associations between cigarette smoking, current khat use, other substance use and various types of problem drinking.…”