title: Mortality risks associated with average drinking level and episodic heavy drinking.
abstract: Data from the 1997 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult questionnaires were linked to the National Death Index (N = 242,397) to examine mortality risks associated with average and episodic heavy drinking. Cox proportional hazard models (Stata 12.0) revealed that (average) heavier drinkers and episodic heavy drinkers (5+ in a day) had increased mortality risks but when examined together, episodic heavy drinking added only modestly to the mortality risks of light and moderate drinkers. Limitations and implications of results for survey measurement of potentially harmful levels of alcohol use are noted. This was a Federal study that received no outside funding.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics , CDC, Hyattsville, Maryland , USA.
authors.forename: Charlotte A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schoenborn
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stommel
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000401:mortality*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 5+ drinks; National Health Interview Survey; alcohol; episodic heavy drinking; mortality risk; survey