Regular alcohol consumption is associated with increasing quality of life and mood in older men and women: The Rancho Bernardo Study
Introduction
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, regardless of age [1], [2]. The first suggestion that moderate daily alcohol consumption was associated with better survival than abstention was reported almost a century ago, when Pearl [3] demonstrated a U-shaped mortality curve in relation to alcohol intake among men 65 years and older residing in the Baltimore area. At that time prohibition was on the public's mind, and Pearl's conclusion was controversial. A recent meta-analyses of 34 prospective cohort studies with more than 1 million subjects and almost 100,000 deaths from any cause showed similar findings, with a J-shaped association between self-reported alcohol consumption and mortality [4]. Moreover, the beneficial effects of light and moderate alcohol consumption for cardiovascular disease are supported by a large body of evidence, as summarized in a meta-analyses by Corrao et al. [2]. Positive effects of moderate drinking on cognitive function [5], dementia [6] and longevity [7], [8], [9] have also been reported.
In young adults, moderate alcohol intake has been associated with psychological and social well-being [9], [10], [11]. However, few studies have examined the association of regular alcohol intake with quality of life among US elderly, although 45% of a representative sample of United States adults aged 65–74 years report drinking alcohol [10]. Quality of life is dependent on multiple factors including health and physical well-being as well as lifestyle variables such as smoking habit, physical activity, and alcohol use. Few previous studies of alcohol intake and well-being have simultaneously taken these lifestyle variables, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and comorbidities into account.
The purpose of the present study is to examine the independent association of reported current alcohol consumption with quality of life in older community-dwelling men and women.
Section snippets
Study population
Between 1972 and 1974, 82% of all adult residents in the southern California community of Rancho Bernardo were surveyed to determine the prevalence of heart disease risk factors. Participants were almost entirely Caucasian, middle- to upper-middle class and ambulatory. They have been followed to the present with periodic clinic visits and annual mailed questionnaires. Between 1992 and 1996, 82% (n = 1781) of surviving community dwelling participants aged 50 and older attended a follow-up research
Results
Participants were aged 50–97 years. As shown in Table 1, men and women were of similar average age (72 years, S.D. = 10). Reported alcohol consumption ranged from 0 to 667 g/week. Among drinkers, women reported a much lower average intake than men (means = 85.6 ± 100.8 in men and 49.4 ± 66.8 in women, p < 0.001). Alcohol intake three or more times/week was reported by 54% of men and 40% of women. Only 11% of men and 17% of women said they were non-drinkers. More than half (57.5%) reported drinking wine
Discussion
Most previous studies of alcohol consumption and quality of life focus on relatively heavy drinkers. This study of steady, but mostly moderate alcohol drinkers showed significant positive associations between the frequency and amount of alcohol intake and four of five quality of life measures, with similar patterns found in men and women. These observed associations were independent of age and lifestyle characteristics including exercise and cigarette smoking, as well as risk factors such as
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