Drinking habits among older persons: Findings from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study (1982-84)

OBJECTIVES: To describe alcohol use and its sociodemographic correlates amo ng persons aged 65 years and older in a US probability sample. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a national probability sample-based coh ort study. SETTING: Multiple sites throughout the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3448 persons aged 65 and older who participated in the first wave of the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study (1982-84). MEASUREMENTS: We describe the alcohol use behaviors and demographic charact eristics of 3448 persons aged 65 and older. Least squares regression models were used to assess associations between older persons' sociodemographic c haracteristics and alcohol use.: RESULTS: Sixty percent of the sample reported having 12 or more drinks of a lcohol in at least 1 year of their lives. Seventy-nine percent of these old er drinkers were currently drinking. Twenty-five percent of all drinkers dr ank daily (31% men, 19% women). Using gender-specific definitions (men >2 d rinks/day; women >1 drink/day), 16% of men drinking alcohol and 15% of wome n drinking alcohol were heavy drinkers. Younger age, male gender, and highe r income were associated with greater alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Most older persons who ever drank alcohol in their lifetimes w ere currently drinking. In addition, a substantial number of older persons were drinking currently at levels that may place them at risk of adverse he alth consequences.