Is there a relationship between excessive drinking and functional impairment in older persons?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between (1) two thresholds of excessive alcohol drinking, (2) binge drinking, and (3) impairments in functional status in older drinkers.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Ten internal medicine practices affiliated with an academic medical center.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-one persons aged 60 and older who reported drinking one or more drinks in the previous 3 months.


METHODS
Two commonly used thresholds of excessive drinking: (1) eight to 14 drinks per week for women and men (lower threshold) and (2) more than 14 drinks per week for women and men (higher threshold); a measure of binge drinking (> or =3 drinks per occasion for women or > or =4 drinks per occasion for men); and self-reported instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and advanced activities of daily living (AADLs).


RESULTS
Compared with older persons consuming seven or fewer drinks per week, those exceeding the higher threshold of excessive drinking were more likely to have impairments in IADLs (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 8.4) and, to a lesser extent, AADLs (AOR = 3.7); those exceeding the lower threshold were more likely to have impairments in IADLs (AOR 5 6.0) but not in AADLs (AOR = 1.7). Binge drinkers were also more likely to have impairments in IADLs (AOR = 3.0) but not in AADLs (AOR = 1.5).


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of older men and women, drinking more than seven drinks per week was associated with impairments in IADLs and, to a lesser extent, AADLs. Drinking more than three drinks per occasion was associated with impairments in IADLs.
Moore
Alison A
AA
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. aamoore@mednet.ucla.edu
Endo
Justin O
JO
Carter
M Kallin
MK
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors