The relationship between three subtypes of the flushing response and DSM-III alcohol abuse in Japanese

This study examined the relationship between the flushing response and drinking patterns and DSM-III alcohol abuse among Japanese using data collected in the joint U.S.-Japan collaborative study. The flushing response was classified into the following three subtypes: typical flushing (always flushed in the face after drinking), atypical flushing (sometimes) and nonflushing (never). This study of male current drinkers showed that typical flushers drank less alcohol than did atypical and nonflushers, but there was no observed difference between the drinking patterns of atypical flushers and nonflushers. Although the relationship was less pronounced, a similar association was found for female current drinkers. The 12-month prevalence of DSM-III alcohol abuse was estimated to be highest among atypical flushers and lowest among typical flushers, with nonflushers in between for both genders. When daily alcohol consumption and other pertinent sociodemographic variables were controlled, logistic regression analyses revealed that the risk for alcohol abuse by men was approximately 3.0 times higher among atypical flushers and 1.7 times higher among nonflushers than among typical flushers. The corresponding risks for abuse by women were 7.8 (atypical flushers) and 2.8 (nonflushers) times higher. Possible explanations for these differences in drinking patterns and the risk for alcohol abuse among the three flushing subtypes and between genders are discussed.