[Heavy alcohol consumption and associated factors: a population-based study]

To determine the prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption and factors associated with it in a Brazilian adult population.

Cross-sectional population-based study including 2,177 adults (aged 20 to 69), living in the urban area of the municipality of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The sample was selected in multiple stages. Heavy alcohol consumption was defined as above 30g/day. The adjusted analysis was conducted by logistic regression.

The prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption was 14.3% (29.2% among men and 3.7% among women). The following groups presented higher prevalences of heavy alcohol consumption after adjusted analysis: men, elderly people, blacks or mulattoes, heavy smokers, and people who present some kind of chronic disease. Men with minor psychiatric disorders showed higher prevalences of heavy alcohol consumption than other men. Among women, association between age and heavy alcohol consumption was inversely related. Furthermore, the study indicates that among hypertensive subjects, those with heavy alcohol consumption presented worse disease management.

Heavy alcohol consumption is high and results in countless negative consequences for the individual's health and quality of life. Our results highlight the high prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption and indicate subsections of the whole population more susceptible to alcoholism.