title: Binge drinking among female Veterans Affairs patients: prevalence and associated risks.
abstract: This study evaluated the prevalence and associated risks of binge drinking, defined as having > or = 4 drinks on an occasion in the past year, in a female patient population. Of 1,259 female Veterans Affairs patients surveyed, 780 reported drinking alcohol in the past year, and 305 (24% of respondents, 39% of drinkers) reported binge drinking in the past year; 84 (11% of drinkers) had done so monthly or more often. Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses indicated that women who reported past-year binge drinking monthly or more often reported significantly increased odds of morning drinking (odds ratio [OR] = 40.3), others worrying about their drinking (OR = 38.6), arguments after drinking (OR = 13.5), hepatitis or cirrhosis (OR = 3.1), frequent injuries (OR = 2.6), smoking (OR = 3.7), drug use (OR = 22.2), and multiple sexual partners (OR = 4.6).
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Development Service, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and University of Washington, Seattle 98108, USA. willi@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dobie
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Burman
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rutter
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kivlahan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health