Changes in heavy drinking following onset of health problems in a U.S. general population sample

Abstract

Heavy episodic drinking is a well-established risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, stroke, hypertension and injuries, however, little is known about whether health problems precipitate changes in subsequent drinking patterns. Retrospective cohort analyses of heavy drinking by decade were conducted using data from the 2010 U.S. National Alcohol Survey (n=5,240). Generalized estimating equations models were used to predict any, monthly, and weekly heavy (5+) drinking occasions across decades of life following a diagnosis of hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, stroke, cancer, or serious injury. Experiencing heart problems was associated with higher odds of reduced weekly heavy drinking (adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 3.5; 95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.7–7.4). The onset of diabetes was also associated with higher odds of reducing any heavy drinking over the decade (ORadj=1.7; 95% CI; 1.1–2.6). Cancer survivors were less likely to report no heavy drinking (ORadj=0.5; 95% CI; 0.3–0.8) or no weekly heavy drinking (ORadj=0.3; 95% CI; 0.2–0.7). Hypertension, stroke and injury were not found to have any significant associations. Reduced heavy drinking was more likely to be reported by Black drinkers following heart problems and Whites following a diabetes diagnosis. Increased heavy drinking following a cancer diagnosis was significant among women and Whites. Future studies on alcohol’s heath and mortality risks should take into consideration effects of health problems on drinking patterns. Additionally, study results support increased prevention efforts targeting heavy drinking among cancer survivors, especially White women, and individuals with or being treated for hypertension.

Associations of education and income with heavy drinking and problem drinking among men: evidence from a population-based study in Japan

“…We selected the following covariates: age, marital status (married/common-law, others), working status (working, not working), self-rated health [22, 23], and psychological distress [22, 24]. Self-rated health was assessed with one question “How would you describe your health?…”

Alcohol Consumption and a Decline in Glomerular Filtration Rate: The Japan Specific Health Checkups Study

“…The exclusion of men with a CVD history and/or current treatment for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes clarified a negative linear association between alcohol consumption and the eGFR trajectory in male daily drinkers ( Figure 2 c). Current drinkers are likely to decrease alcohol consumption and quit drinking after the incidence of cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes and heart diseases [ 38 , 40 ]. Patients with these cardiometabolic diseases are at high risk for CKD [ 26 , 41 ].…”

“…Second, after excluding 121,431 participants with a CVD history and/or current treatment for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes, we assessed the association between alcohol consumption and the eGFR slope in 183,498 participants without a CVD history or current treatment for hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes, to alleviate the potential impact of sick quitters. Sick quitters who had such comorbidities and, therefore, quit drinking or reduced alcohol consumption [ 38 ] might be at a high risk of eGFR decline. The inclusion of sick quitters might lead to a biased estimate of the association between alcohol consumption and the eGFR slope.…”

Want a healthy life: A qualitative study on motivation to cease alcoholic drink addiction

“…The internal organs are attacked to reveal the influence between alcoholic drinks with health on alcoholic drink consumers. Physical effects feared by individuals are diseases such as the emergence of heart problems, diabetes, cancer, stroke, hypertension, and injury, to encourage individuals to cease their addiction (Kerr et al, 2017). Read et al (2013) find the effects arising from alcoholic drinks' consumption can bring about desire and strength and therefore starting to cease addiction.…”