Factors associated with alcohol consumption patterns in a Puerto Rican urban cohort.
OBJECTIVE
There is little research on factors associated with alcohol consumption among Puerto Ricans living in the USA; thus the aim of the present study was to examine alcohol intake patterns, and factors associated with drinking categories, in a cohort of Puerto Rican adults in Massachusetts.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Descriptive and polytomous logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with drinking patterns, stratified by gender.


METHODS
Greater Boston area, MA, USA.


METHODS
Puerto Rican adults (n 1292), aged 45-75 years.


RESULTS
Eight per cent of men and 39% of women were lifetime abstainers; 40% of men and 25% of women were former drinkers; 31 % of men and 27% of women were moderate drinkers; and 21% of men and 8% of women were heavy drinkers. Thirty-five per cent of participants reported drinking alcohol while taking medications with alcohol contraindications. After multivariable adjustment, young men were less likely than older men to be moderate drinkers. Among women, higher BMI, age, lower income and lower psychological acculturation were associated with abstention; age and lower perceived emotional support were associated with increased likelihood of former drinking; and women without v. with diabetes were more likely to be heavy drinkers.


CONCLUSIONS
High prevalence of chronic disease, heavy drinking and alcohol use while taking medications with alcohol contraindications suggest an urgent need for better screening and interventions tailored to this rapidly growing Hispanic national subgroup. As heavy drinking appears to increase with acculturation for women, public health initiatives are needed to support appropriate alcohol use.
1Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy,Tufts University,Boston,MA,USA.
Johanna Y
JY
Andrews-Chavez
2Counseling & Applied Educational Psychology,Northeastern University,Boston,MA,USA.
Christina S
CS
Lee
1Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy,Tufts University,Boston,MA,USA.
Robert F
RF
Houser
3Office of the Dean Fine Arts,Humanities and Social Sciences,University of Massachusetts Lowell,Lowell,MA,USA.
Luis M
LM
Falcon
4Department of Clinical Laboratory and Nutritional Sciences,University of Massachusetts Lowell,3 Solomont Way,Suite 4,Lowell,MA 01854,USA.
Katherine L
KL
Tucker
D000069:Acculturation; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000075202:Contraindications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology
D000431:Ethanol
Alcohol; Boston; Contraindication; Gender; Medication; Puerto Rican