title: Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among community-dwelling older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence and correlates of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking among older Australian men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported alcohol and tobacco use was assessed among a random sample of community-dwelling men aged ≥70 years living in Sydney (n = 1705) from 2005 to 2007. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of heavy/excessive drinking was 19.2%, daily drinking 33.7%, and binge drinking 14.1%. Daily drinking was associated with chronic pain (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07-1.78). Binge drinking was associated with anxiety (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.05-3.54) and being widowed (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.11-2.73). Six per cent of men were current smokers and 56.7% were former smokers. Former smoking was associated with polypharmacy (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14-1.91) and each additional comorbid condition (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly one-fifth of older men drank heavily or excessively. This highlights the need for public health initiatives to reduce alcohol consumption in older people.
authors: Sansom Institute, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors: Jenni
authors: J
authors: Ilomäki
authors: Danijela
authors: D
authors: Gnjidic
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Le Couteur
authors: J Simon
authors: JS
authors: Bell
authors: Fiona M
authors: FM
authors: Blyth
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Handelsman
authors: Robert G
authors: RG
authors: Cumming
authors: Markus J
authors: MJ
authors: Seibel
authors: Louise M
authors: LM
authors: Waite
authors: Vasi
authors: V
authors: Naganathan
authors: Sarah N
authors: SN
authors: Hilmer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019338:Polypharmacy; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology
keywords: aged; alcohol drinking; binge drinking; men; smoking