title: [Geographic Altitude of Residence and Alcohol Dependence in a Peruvian Population].
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the association between alcohol dependence and altitude of residence in 11 villages in two high altitude areas of Peru. An analytical cross-sectional study was performed using a survey conducted by physicians in primary health care in 11 villages until 2013, that were divided into low altitude (≤2500m asl (above sea level)), and high altitude (>2500m asl) areas. The CAGE test for alcoholism (cut point, ≥2) was applied to those who responded positively when asked if they consumed alcohol. Statistical associations were obtained with generalised linear models Of the 737 participants, 51% were women and the median age was 36 years [interquartile range, 25-50], 334 (45%) lived at low altitude, and 113 (15%) had alcohol dependence. The highest frequency of alcoholism was positively associated with being a village considered extremely poor (Likelihood Ratio (LP)=2.42; 95%CI, 1.40-4.19), while being female (LP=0.44; 95%CI, 0.23-0.89) and residing at high altitude (LP=0.15; 95%CI, 0.07-0.31) were negatively associated. These were adjusted for nine socio-occupational and pathological variables. According to these data, there is a higher frequency of alcohol dependence in being, male, extremely poor, and residing at low altitude. These results should be taken into account by professionals who work in primary care and those involved in mental health care, because of their implications in society.
authors: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú
authors: Dante Manuel
authors: DM
authors: Quiñones-Laveriano
authors: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú
authors: César
authors: C
authors: Espinoza-Chiong
authors: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Perú
authors: Ottavia
authors: O
authors: Scarsi-Mejia
authors: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Rojas-Camayo
authors: Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Continental, Huancayo, Perú; Asociación Médica de Investigación y Servicios en Salud (AMISS), Lima, Perú. Electronic address: christian.mejia.md@gmail.com.
authors: Christian Richard
authors: CR
authors: Mejia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000531:Altitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Alcohol drinking; Alcoholism; Alcoholismo; Altitud; Altitude; Consumo de bebidas alcohólicas; Población rural; Pobreza; Poverty; Rural population