title: Comparison of AUDIT and CAGE questionnaires in screening for alcohol use disorders in elderly primary care outpatients.
abstract: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) can be destructive in the elderly because of drug interactions, higher blood alcohol levels per amount consumed, and limited functional reserve. However, physicians diagnose only about 30% of elderly with AUD. The objective of this study was to screen for AUD in rural elderly family medicine outpatients using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A survey of all presenting patients aged 65 years or older who consented (N = 93) was done in four family practices in Southeast Ohio. Measurements included the CAGE and AUDIT questionnaires. On the AUDIT, 13 subjects (14.0%), [10 men, 3 women], screened positive for AUD, scoring 5 or more points, and seven subjects (7.5%) [six men, one woman] screened positive for AUD, scoring 8 or more points. On the CAGE, five men (5.4%) but no women screened positive (> or = 2 affirmatives). The prevalence of AUD found in this survey (5.4% to 14.0%) is consistent with previous studies. Based on these findings, the AUDIT may be a useful screening instrument in the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens 45701, USA.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Clay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires