title: Alcohol consumption and physical functioning among middle-aged and older adults in Central and Eastern Europe: results from the HAPIEE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  light-to-moderate drinking is apparently associated with a decreased risk of physical limitations in middle-aged and older adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the association between alcohol consumption and physical limitations in Eastern European populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  a cross-sectional survey of 28,783 randomly selected residents (45-69 years) in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland) and seven towns of Czech Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  physical limitations were defined as <75% of optimal physical functioning using the Physical Functioning (PF-10) Subscale of the Short-Form-36 questionnaire. Alcohol consumption was assessed by a graduated frequency questionnaire, and problem drinking was defined as ≥2 positive responses on the CAGE questionnaire. In the Russian sample, past drinking was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the odds of physical limitations were highest among non-drinkers, decreased with increasing drinking frequency, annual consumption and average drinking quantity and were not associated with problem drinking. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of physical limitations in non-drinkers versus regular moderate drinkers was 1.61 (95% confidence interval: 1.48-1.75). In the Russian sample with past drinking available, the adjusted OR in those who stopped drinking for health reasons versus continuing drinkers was 3.19 (2.58-3.95); ORs in lifetime abstainers, former drinkers for non-health reasons and reduced drinkers for health reasons were 1.27 (1.02-1.57), 1.48 (1.18-1.85) and 2.40 (2.05-2.81), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study found an inverse association between alcohol consumption and physical limitations. The high odds of physical limitations in non-drinkers can be largely explained by poor health of former drinkers. The apparently protective effect of heavier drinking was partly due to less healthy former heavy drinkers who moved to lower drinking categories.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Yaoyue
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Hynek
authors: H
authors: Pikhart
authors: Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Malyutina
authors: Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Pajak
authors: National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors: Ruzena
authors: R
authors: Kubinova
authors: Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
authors: Yuri
authors: Y
authors: Nikitin
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Peasey
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Marmot
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Bobak
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D065840:Protective Factors; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Central and Eastern Europe; ageing; alcohol consumption; older people; physical functioning