Epidemiology of self-reported past heavy drinking in Hispanic adults.
OBJECTIVE
Self-reports of past heavy drinking correlate with the current drinking practices and with risk of mortality in non-Hispanic males. The prevalence of past heavy drinking has not been reported in Hispanic populations.


METHODS
Using data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) we (1) report on the prevalence, duration and severity of past heavy drinking in three Hispanic groups, (2) compare the current alcohol consumption patterns among past heavy drinkers and those who do not report a history of past heavy drinking and (3) compare the risk factor profiles and health indicators in these two groups.


RESULTS
The prevalence of past heavy drinking among Mexican American and Puerto Rican males ranged from 28-35% while the rates for Cuban American males ranged from 7-16%. The rates for Hispanic women were much lower (1-8%). The average years of past heavy drinking ranged from 2.3-14.9 years, while the alcohol consumption during the past heavy drinking period ranged from 24.4-44.0 drinks per week. Past heavy drinkers tended to consume more alcohol at present than did never heavy drinkers with the greatest differences found for Mexican American females. Comparisons of the risk factors and health indicators by drinking status revealed a higher prevalence of smoking among past heavy drinkers (50-60%) versus never heavy drinkers (34-43%). Past heavy drinking Mexican American females also reported significantly more chronic conditions and depressive symptoms than did never heavy drinkers.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence rates of past heavy drinking among Mexican American and Puerto Rican males are approximately three times higher than rates reported for non-Hispanic male populations.
Lee
D J
DJ
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101, USA.
Markides
K S
KS
Ray
L A
LA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology*; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires