title: Demographic trends of binge alcohol use and alcohol use disorders among older adults in the United States, 2005-2014.
abstract: Alcohol use is common among older adults, and this population has unique risks with alcohol consumption in even lower amounts than younger persons. No recent studies have estimated trends in alcohol use including binge alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUD) among older adults.
  
  
  
  We examined alcohol use among adults age ≥50 in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2005 to 2014. Trends of self-reported past-month binge alcohol use and AUD were estimated. Logistic regression models were used to examine correlates of binge alcohol use and AUD.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of both past-month binge alcohol use and AUD increased significantly among adults age ≥50 from 2005/2006 to 2013/2014, with a relative increase of 19.2% for binge drinking (linear trend p<0.001) and a 23.3% relative increase for AUD (linear trend p=0.035). While males had a higher prevalence of binge alcohol use and AUD compared to females, there were significant increases in both among females. In adjusted models of aggregated data, being Hispanic, male, and a smoker or illicit drug user were associated with binge alcohol use, while being male, a smoker, an illicit drug user, or reporting past-year depression or mental health treatment were associated with AUD.
  
  
  
  Alcohol use among older adults is increasing in the US, including past-month binge alcohol use and AUD with increasing trends among females. Providers and policymakers need to be aware of these changes to address the increase of older adults with unhealthy drinking.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, 550 First Avenue, BCD 615, New York, NY 10016, United States; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University Rory College of Nursing, 433 First Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010, United States. Electronic address: Benjamin.Han@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
authors.forename: Alison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, 550 First Avenue, BCD 615, New York, NY 10016, United States; New York University Langone Medical Center, Department of Population Health, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University Rory College of Nursing, 433 First Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010, United States; New York University Langone Medical Center, Department of Population Health, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Palamar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Alcohol; Epidemiology; Older adults