Use of psychotropic drugs and alcohol among non-institutionalised elderly adults in Germany.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the use of psychotropic drugs and alcohol among non-institutionalised elderly adults in Germany.


METHODS
Using data from the 1998 German National Health Interview and Examination Survey, we analysed patterns of current psychotropic drug and alcohol use among 726 male and 879 female survey participants between the ages of 60 and 79. Multivariable regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with alcohol consumption and psychotropic drug use.


RESULTS
The overall weighted last-week prevalence was 20.1% for the use of psychotropic drugs, 47.3% for the use of alcohol, 15.1% for risky drinking, and 7.6% for combined psychotropic drug and alcohol use. Factors significantly related to psychotropic drug use included female sex, older age, poor health status and polypharmacy. Male sex, smoking, higher social status, better health status and living alone were determinants of alcohol consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to other European countries, overall psychotropic drug use among the elderly in Germany is slightly lower, whereas alcohol use as risky drinking and concurrent use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs are highly prevalent. It should be of particular concern to health professionals that people at high risk for psychotropic drug use include the most vulnerable subgroups among the elderly.
Du
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Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Division of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany. DuY@rki.edu
Scheidt-Nave
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Knopf
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D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs