title: Drinking patterns of older adults with chronic medical conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding alcohol consumption patterns of older adults with chronic illness is important given the aging baby boomer generation, the increase in prevalence of chronic conditions and associated medication use, and the potential consequences of excessive drinking in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of alcohol consumption patterns, including at-risk drinking, in older adults with at least one of seven common chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study used the nationally representative 2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey linked with Medicare claims. The sample included community-dwelling, fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older with one or more of seven chronic conditions (Alzheimer's disease and other senile dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke; n = 7,422). Based on self-reported alcohol consumption, individuals were categorized as nondrinkers, within-guidelines drinkers, or at-risk drinkers (exceeds guidelines).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 30.9 % (CI 28.0-34.1 %) of older adults with at least one of seven chronic conditions reported alcohol consumption in a typical month in the past year, and 6.9 % (CI 6.0-7.8 %) reported at-risk drinking. Older adults with higher chronic disease burdens were less likely to report alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly one-third of older adults with selected chronic illnesses report drinking alcohol and almost 7 % drink in excess of National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) guidelines. It is important for physicians and patients to discuss alcohol consumption as a component of chronic illness management. In cases of at-risk drinking, providers have an opportunity to provide brief intervention or to offer referrals if needed.
authors.affiliation: Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS035, Waltham, MA, 02454-9110, USA, mryan@brandeis.edu.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Merrick
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hodgkin
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Horgan
authors.forename: Deborah W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Garnick
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panas
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Frederic C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology