title: Alcohol drinking patterns and risk of functional limitations in two cohorts of older adults.
abstract: Several studies have found that moderate alcohol intake is associated with lower risk of functional limitations in older adults. However, no previous investigation has assessed this association in older adults from Mediterranean countries, who show characteristic drinking patterns.
  
  
  
  Data were taken from the UAM and the Seniors-ENRICA cohorts in Spain, comprising community-dwelling people aged ≥60 years. At baseline, participants in both cohorts were classified as non-drinkers, ex-drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers (the threshold between moderate and heavy intake was ≥40 g/day in men and ≥24 g/day in women). The Seniors-ENRICA cohort allowed assessment of a Mediterranean Drinking Pattern (MDP), defined as moderate alcohol intake, with wine preference (≥80% of alcohol consumed as wine) and drinking only with meals. The incidence of limitation in mobility, agility, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was ascertained in each cohort at the end of a 3.5-year follow-up. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, education, lifestyle, BMI, chronic conditions, and functional limitations at baseline others than the studied limitation.
  
  
  
  Compared with non-drinkers, ex-drinkers showed a higher risk of IADL limitation (pooled adjusted odds ratio [paOR]: 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-2.21). By contrast, moderate drinkers had a lower risk of limitations in mobility (paOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.63-0.97), agility (paOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.65-0.99) and IADL (paOR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39-0.69). Among individuals reporting poor or fair health, the MDP was associated with lower risk of mobility limitation (aOR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.27-0.97).
  
  
  
  In older adults, moderate alcohol consumption, as well as the MDP in specific subgroups, is associated with lower risk of functional limitation. These results should not serve to promote alcohol intake, because older adults are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/Idipaz, Madrid, Spain; CIBER of Epidemioloy and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: luz.leon@uam.es.
authors.forename: Luz Ma
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: León-Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/Idipaz, Madrid, Spain; CIBER of Epidemioloy and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guallar-Castillón
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/Idipaz, Madrid, Spain; CIBER of Epidemioloy and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Esquinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/Idipaz, Madrid, Spain; National Centre for Epidemiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/Idipaz, Madrid, Spain; CIBER of Epidemioloy and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: fernando.artalejo@uam.es.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Artalejo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Alcohol; Cohort study; Functional limitations