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A new paradigm for alcohol use in older persons
A A Moore1, S C Morton, J C Beck
1UCLA School of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. amoore@med1.medsch.ucla.edu
Medical Care
|February 19, 1999
Summary
Alcohol consumption can be harmful for older adults, especially with existing health issues or medications. Clinicians should consider these factors when assessing alcohol-related problems in seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Traditional alcohol problem paradigms may not fit older adults due to physiological changes.
- Age-related factors like increased illness and medication use can make any alcohol level problematic for seniors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish clinical guidelines for identifying harmful, hazardous, and non-hazardous alcohol consumption in individuals aged 65 and older.
- To address the unique risks of alcohol use in the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Convened an expert panel of nine specialists in geriatrics, psychiatry, internal medicine, and alcohol research.
- Utilized the RAND/UCLA two-round panel methodology, incorporating epidemiological data and literature review.
- Developed consensus on clinical indications through iterative feedback and revision.
Main Results:
- Achieved consensus on 215 scenarios identifying hazardous or harmful alcohol use in older adults.
- Identified key risk factors including co-occurring medical conditions, medication use, functional limitations, and smoking.
- Found no significant difference in risk perception between younger (65-74) and older (75+) elderly groups.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol use poses risks for older individuals, particularly when combined with health issues, medications, functional decline, or smoking.
- Clinicians must consider these co-factors when screening for and managing alcohol-related issues in the elderly.
- Awareness of these specific risks is crucial for effective clinical intervention in older drinkers.