Alcoholism in older Korean men: prevalence, aetiology, and comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in urban and rural communities.
BACKGROUND
Alcoholism in the elderly has received little research, particularly outside 'Western' cultures.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and aetiology of alcoholism, and its comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in an older Korean population.


METHODS
1134 urban and rural community residents aged 65 or over were surveyed in Kwangju, South Korea. Alcoholism was identified by a culturally validated screening scale.


RESULTS
Alcoholism was present in 16% of men and 2% of women. In men (n = 457), alcoholism was positively associated with manual occupation and negatively with religions encouraging temperance. In the urban sample, alcoholism was associated with higher education and with dementia. In the rural sample, it was associated with lower education and less strongly with dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of alcoholism was high in this population. Associated factors and urban/rural differences reflect traditional attitudes toward drinking.
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Kwangju City Mental Hospital, Kwangju, Republic of Korea.
Shin
Il-Seon
IS
Stewart
Robert
R
Yoon
Jin-Sang
JS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*