title: No Direct Survival Effect of Light to Moderate Alcohol Drinking in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between light to moderate alcohol consumption and mortality, particularly accounting for baseline health status and physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, longitudinal, population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Pianoro Study, which consisted of community-dwelling older adults in three towns in northern Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noninstitutionalized individuals of both sexes aged 65 and older (N = 5,256; 2,318 abstainers, 2,309 light to moderate drinkers (≤2 alcoholic units/d)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline information about demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE)), perceived health status (visual analog scale (VAS)), dependency level, risk factors, and previous cardiovascular events was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Follow-up information was obtained 6 years later from 2,752 survivors, and mortality information was obtained from death certificates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male sex, being physically active, and good health status were independently associated with light to moderate drinking (P < .001). An apparent protective effect of light to moderate drinking on mortality was evident in the unadjusted analysis and after adjusting for age, sex, risk factors, and cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.68-0.88, P < .001), but after also adjusting for PASE and VAS, the relationship was no longer significant (aHR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.80-1.05, P = .19). Follow-up physical activity was associated with baseline alcohol consumption; baseline physical activity did not predict alcohol consumption during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After accounting for health status and physical activity, light to moderate alcohol drinking had no direct protective effect on mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muscari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magalotti
authors.affiliation: Epidemiological and Health Promotion Unit, Department of Public Health, Azienda Unita Sanitaria Locale Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaccheri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoli
keywords: EuroQoL-5D; Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly; alcohol; health status; mortality; physical activity