Predictors of Alcohol Consumption Among Younger Adults During the First Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may lead to negative mental health effects but the effect on alcohol consumption among younger adults is unclear. We assess predictors of change in alcohol consumption during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic among younger adults.Methods: This cross-sectional internet-based survey was part of an overarching project, the Corona Drug Survey, which was conducted from April 30 to August 4, 2020. Participants of any sex and ≥18 years old were included. The primary outcome measure was change in alcohol consumption during the early COVID-19 pandemic. We implemented an ordinal logistic regression to assess the effect (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) of the following predictors: quarantine restrictions on leaving the residence, number of individuals in the household, problematic alcohol consumption before the pandemic (CAGE [cutting down, annoyance by criticism, guilty feeling, and eye-opener] score), personal concern regarding the pandemic, age, and sex.Results: 3,321 participants with a mean age of 32 (SD: 13) years were included in this study. 70.4% of participants reported less or unchanged alcohol consumption in the recent 4 weeks of the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. A higher number of individuals in the household was associated with a reduced alcohol consumption (OR = 0.869; 95% CI = 0.815–0.927). No quarantine restrictions on leaving the residence (OR = 1.593; 95% CI = 1.397–1.817), a higher age (1.006; 1.001-1.011), and female sex (compared to males: 1.206; 1.062–1.371) were associated with an increase in alcohol consumption. The CAGE score before the pandemic (OR = 0.983; 95% CI = 0.931–1.037) and the pandemic concern (0.927; 0.857–1.003) were not associated with a significant change in alcohol consumption. Celebrations were no longer frequent drinking occasions during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. The majority of participants (60.9%) did not use alcohol drinking as a coping mechanism to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic.Interpretation: In this cohort of younger adults with fewer celebratory drinking occasions, restrictions on leaving the residence and the number of persons in the household were the strongest predictors of reduced alcohol consumption during the early phase of the pandemic.

Alcohol consumption among students at senior high school Number 3 at An Nhon district, Binh Dinh province in 2015

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption among students at senior high school Number 3 at An Nhon district, BinhDinh province in 2015. The results showed that the percentage of having ever consumed alcohol and having consumed alcohol during the past 30 days was 58.7% (95% [CI] 53.7% - 63.7%), and 42% (95%[CI] 37% - 47%), respectively. The proportion of frequent drinking was 3.2% (95% CI 1.7% - 5.6%), regular drinking was 5.9% (95% [CI]3.7%-8%), and of binge drinking was 6.4% (95% [CI] 3.9% - 8.9%). The median of number of drinks taking in one occasion was 3, with the inter-quartile range of 1 - 5. Male having drinking friends and being invited to drink by friends were factors associated with alcohol consumption, regular drinking, and binge drinking. The amount of money given by family was a related factor to binge drinking, the more money the higher chance of binge. Parents should pay attention to children’s friends, especially the ones drinking alcohol. It is necessary to introduce to senior high school students a health education program about harmful effects of alcohol drinking

Associations of Alcohol Consumption with Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in Cognitively Intact Older Adults: The CABLE Study

Background: The relationship between alcohol consumption and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is unclear. Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been proven valuable in establishing prognosis in pre-clinical AD. Objective: We sought to examine the associations between alcohol consumption and CSF AD biomarkers in cognitive intact subjects. Methods: A total of 806 cognitively intact participants who had measurements of CSF Aβ, pTau, and total Tau proteins and drinking characteristics were included from the Chinese Alzheimer’s Biomarker and Lifestyle (CABLE) study. Linear and logistic regression analyses were utilized to explore the associations of alcohol consumption with CSF AD biomarkers. We examined the interaction effects of age, gender, and apolipoprotein epsilon (APOE) ɛ4 status on the relationships between the frequency of drinking and CSF biomarkers. Results: The multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant differences in CSF AD biomarkers between infrequent drinking (< 1 times/week) and frequent drinking groups (≥1 times/week). Participants in frequent drinking group had higher CSF p-tau/Aβ 42 and tTau/Aβ42. Frequent drinking was significantly associated with greater pTau and tTau abnormalities compared to the infrequent drinking group in older (> 65 years) participants. Conclusion: The present study showed significant associations between drinking frequency and CSF AD biomarkers in cognitively intact older adults. Alcohol consumption may have an influence on AD by modulating amyloid deposition and tau phosphorylation in the preclinical stage.

The changing alcohol drinking patterns among older adults show that women are closing the gender gap in more frequent drinking: the Tromsø study, 1994–2016

Background As the population of older adults continues to grow, changes in alcohol consumption are important to monitor because an increase may have public health consequences. Rates of alcohol use vary with geographical location. The aim of this study was to examine trends in alcohol consumption among older adults in a geographically defined area in Norway, especially changing sex differences in drinking patterns over a 22-year period. Methods Repeated cross-sectional survey (in 1994–95, 2007–08, and 2015–16) of a general population of older adults. Eligible for this study were 20,939 participants (aged 60–99 years). The data were analysed using generalized estimating equations, stratified by age and sex. Alcohol consumption and drinking patterns were assessed, using an adaptation of the AUDIT-C. Results Between 1994 and 2016, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of current drinkers among older adults. Furthermore, the probability of frequent drinking (alcohol consumption at least twice weekly) increased significantly between 1994 and 2016, particularly among older women; OR 8.02 (CI 5.97–10.79) and OR 5.87 (CI 4.00–8.63) in the age groups 60–69 and 70+ respectively for women, and OR 4.13 (CI 3.42–4.99) and OR 3.10 (CI 2.41–3.99), in the age groups 60–69 and 70+ respectively for men. The majority of older adults drank small amounts of alcohol on typical drinking days, but there was an increasing probability of drinking three drinks or more on each occasion over the study period, except among women aged 70+ years. Conclusions Among older adults in Norway, alcohol consumption in terms of frequency and quantity on typical drinking days has increased considerably from 1996 to 2016. This change is in the opposite direction of what has been reported among younger adults. The gap between women and men in frequent drinking has been markedly narrowed, which indicate that women’s drinking patterns are approaching those of men. This may involve a need to change alcohol policy in Norway to more targeted interventions aimed at older people.

COVID-19 exposure and diagnosis among college student drinkers: links to alcohol use behavior, motives, and context

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis. College student alcohol use is highly prevalent and primarily occurs in social settings where risk for COVID-19 transmission is heightened. This study explored the associations between alcohol use frequency, quantity, motives, and context with: (i) quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure and (ii) a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. A sample of n = 409 college student drinkers completed an online survey about their health and behaviors during the Fall 2020 semester. Since the start of the semester, 36% of students quarantined and 13% of students received a COVID-19 diagnosis. More frequent alcohol use was associated with increased odds of both quarantine and COVID-19 diagnosis. More frequent drinking for social motives was associated with increased likelihood of quarantine, and more frequent drinking for conformity motives was associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 diagnosis. Participants who often drank alone or with a small group of friends were about half as likely to have quarantined, while those who often drank with a large group of friends were almost twice as likely to have quarantined. Participants who often drank in a bar or nightclub had almost three times the odds of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Frequent alcohol use and drinking for social and conformity motives and in certain contexts are linked to increased likelihood of COVID-19 exposure and diagnosis. Alcohol use prevention efforts, coupled with messaging to discourage large social gatherings in public places, might help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among college students.

Drinking patterns among Finns aged 60 years and over from the 1990s onwards

Aim: To analyse prevalence and trends in older people’s (60+) alcohol use in Finland in 1993–2018. Data and method: Data on people aged 65+ were obtained from the Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Elderly study (HBHFE) for the years 1993–2011 and from its successor the National FinSote Survey for the years 2013–2018. Data for 60–64-year-olds and for the reference group (20–59-year-olds) were obtained from the Health Behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population (HBHFA) study for the years 1993–2011 and from the FinSote study for the years 2013–2018. Four measures were chosen to describe prevalence and trends in drinking patterns in five-year age groups among men and women aged 60+: prevalence of current drinking, prevalence of frequent drinking, typical amounts of drinking and prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED). Results: Regarding prevalence of current drinking and frequent drinking, older women have been catching up with men, but older men still consume larger amounts of alcohol per occasion. The long-lasting increase in the prevalence of current drinkers continued in most older female age groups into the 2010s, settled in most older male and some female age groups, and shifted downwards in the oldest male age groups. In most older male and female age groups, the increasing trend in frequent drinking continued to the present. Data on typical amounts consumed and HED were only available for 2013–2018. In that period those measures remained rather stable. Conclusion: More detailed research on drinking patterns among people aged 60+ years is needed for two reasons: older people’s drinking is a new cultural phenomenon and alcohol-related social and health harms are increasing in older age groups.

Pattern of alcohol use and drinking antecedents in alcohol dependent patients with and without co-morbid depression: a comparative study

Background: Few studies have compared the pattern of alcohol use in Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) patients with and without co-morbid depression. Assessing the pattern may throw light into prevention of relapses more effectively in alcohol dependent patients with co-morbid depression. This study was undertaken to assess the difference in pattern of drinking of alcohol in patients with alcohol dependence with and without co-morbid depression.Methods: A descriptive comparative study was designed to compare the difference in pattern of alcohol use in alcohol dependent patients with co-morbid depression and without co-morbid depression. Severity of dependence on alcohol was assessed using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Drinking pattern was assessed using Timeline Follow back Calender and Drinking Pattern Questionnaire. The data were statistically analysed.Results: Total 96 alcohol dependent patients (24 had co-morbid depression and 72 without co-morbid depression) were included in the study. There were no significant differences in alcohol use in both the groups in terms of AUDIT scores, amount of drinking, abstinence days or binge drinking. More frequent drinking was observed in circumstances related to emotional, physiological, financial and children related situations in patients with co-morbid depression (p<0.05).Conclusions: Drinking circumstances like emotional, physiological, financial and children related situations require more attention while assessing, treating and aiming at relapse of prevention in ADS patients with co-morbid depression.

Ten-Year Trends in Chinese Drinking Pattern: Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2002 to 2012

Objectives To obtain information on drinking patterns and its changing trends, and to reveal drinking pattern and risky drinking in relation to socioeconomic development in China. Methods Data from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey and the 2010–2012 Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance were used to describe the drinking patterns of Chinese aged 15 years and above. Stratified multistage cluster sampling methods were used to select nationally representative sample in the two surveys. Weighted analyses included 194,339 participants estimate 10 billion Chinese. Current drinkers defined as respondents who had consumed alcoholic beverages in the previous 12-month period. Drinking ≥5 times per week was considered as frequent drinking. Excessive drinking was defined as consumption of ≥25 g/d alcohol for men and ≥15 g/d alcohol for women. Results In 10-year period, the prevalence of current drinking increased from 44.0% (95%CI: 43.3–44.6) to 55.8% (95%CI: 51.6–58.5) for male, from 9.7% (95%CI: 9.3–10.1) to 13.5% (95%CI: 11.3–15.7) for female. Among current drinkers, prevalence of frequent drinking increased from 33.3% (95%CI: 32.4–34.3) to 35.5% (95%CI: 31.6–39.5) for male, from 13.4% (95%CI: 12.1–14.8) to 14.0% (95%CI: 11.3–16.6) for female. Median daily alcohol intake decreased from 14.8 g (95%CI: 14.2–15.4) to 11.4 g (95%CI: 8.9–13.9) for male and from 1.6 g (95%CI: 1.3–1.8) to 0.9 g (95%CI: 0.6–1.2) for female. Prevalence of excessive drinking among current drinkers decreased from 33.2% (95%CI: 32.3–34.0) to 30.4 (95%CI: 26.5–34.3). Education level showed significantly negative effect on the prevalence of excessive drinking. Female, drinkers with drinking frequency less than 1 time per week, and drinkers with high education or income level were more likely to choose wine. In contrast, male, frequent drinkers, and drinkers with low education or income level had higher proportion consume spirits. Conclusions Increasing prevalence of current and frequent drinking, and high excessive drinking rate showed that culturally appropriate effort to reduce alcohol use in China is still necessary. Funding Sources National Health and Family Planning Commission (former Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China) Medical Reform Major Program: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2010–2012.

Evaluation of childhood traumatic experience as a risk factor for alcohol use disorder in adulthood

Background We aimed to investigate the effect of early-age (prenatal, infant, and childhood) trauma on adulthood alcohol use disorder. Methods A total number of 1534 subjects who were born and live in the city of Tangshan were selected. The subjects were divided into three age groups. General demographic data, conditions of the mothers during pregnancy, and condition of the babies at birth, were collected. The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder was based on Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis Disorders (patient version) (SCID). The childhood trauma questionnaire short form (CTQ-SF) [1] and the Lifetime of Experience Questionnaire (LTE-Q) [2] were used to evaluate stress in childhood and adulthood, respectively. Results Only male subjects were diagnosed with lifelong alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of lifetime alcohol use disorder (X2 = 4.480, P = 0.345), current alcohol abuse, and current alcohol dependence among the three groups (X2abuse = 2.177, X2depedence = 2.198, P > 0.05). However, higher prevalence of lifetime alcohol use disorders was found in group with higher scores of CTQ (X2 = 9.315, P = 0.009), emotional abuse (X2 = 8.025, P = 0.018), physical abuse (X2 = 20.4080, P < 0.001), but not in the group with higher scores of emotional neglect (X2 = 1.226, P = 0.542), sexual abuse (X2 = 2.779, P = 0.249), physical neglect (X2 = 3.978, P = 0.137), LTE-Q (X2 = 5.415, P = 0.067), and PSQI (X2 = 5.238, P = 0.073). Protective factor for alcohol abuse for men was identified to be heavy drinking (OR = 0.085, 95%CI: 0.011–0.661), and the risk factors for alcohol abuse were identified to be frequent drinking (OR = 2.736, 95%CI: 1.500, 4.988), and consumption of low liquor (OR = 2.563, 95%CI: 1.387, 4.734). Risk factors for alcohol dependence in males were identified to be consumption of low liquor (OR = 5.501, 95%CI: 2.004, 15.103), frequent drinking (OR = 2.680, 95%CI: 1.164, 6.170), and childhood physical abuse (OR = 2.310, 95% CI: 1.026, 5.201). Conclusion Traumatic experience during infant and prenatal periods does not have a strong statistical correlation with alcohol use disorders for male adults. However, subjects with high CTQ scores, experience of emotional abuse and physical abuse show a statistically higher prevalence of lifetime alcohol use disorders. Several risk factors including consumption of low liquor, frequent drinking, and childhood physical abuse contribute to alcohol dependence in male adults.