Heavy episodic drinking in the São Paulo epidemiologic catchment area study in Brazil: gender and sociodemographic correlates.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to quantify heavy episodic drinking (HED) among adults living in two middle-class boroughs in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and to estimate possible effects of gender, age, and other sociodemographic factors.


METHODS
Data were taken from the São Paulo Catchment Area Study. A representative sample (N = 1,464) of the adult population living in households was assessed through Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 1.1. The pattern of lifetime and last-12-month alcohol consumption was evaluated. HED was defined as consuming five or more drinks per drinking day for men and four or more drinks per drinking day for women. Prevalence rates and sociodemographic correlates were examined separately for men and women.


RESULTS
The overall 12-month prevalence of HED in this sample was 10.7%, with 15.4% of the men and 7.2% of the women reporting HED. Lifetime overall abstinence was 22.2%, with 32.4% of the women and 8.7% of the men being lifetime abstainers. The odds of HED among women were increased for those between 18 and 44 years of age and for those who were not married (separated, divorced, widowed, and never married). Among men the risk was increased for those between 18 and 24 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
HED is a common pattern of drinking in this sample, mainly in young men. Among women, HED is not confined to the younger groups. Future studies are needed to assess the impact of HED on physical health, mental health, and social functioning.
Silveira
Camila Magalhães
CM
Section of Psychiatric Epidemiology - LIM 23, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Wang
Yuan-Pang
YP
Andrade
Arthur G
AG
Andrade
Laura H
LH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires