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Drinking problems and mortality risk in the United States.
Richard G Rogers1, Jason D Boardman1, Philip M Pendergast1
1Department of Sociology and Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, 483 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0483, United States.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|April 11, 2015
Summary
Alcohol-related problems, especially social ones, significantly increase mortality risk in US adults. These risks persist even after accounting for drinking levels and other factors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- Alcohol consumption is a major public health concern.
- Understanding the specific risks associated with alcohol-related problems is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has primarily focused on alcohol quantity rather than the social and personal consequences of drinking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 41 distinct alcohol-related problems and all-cause mortality risk in US adults.
- To determine if social consequences of alcohol abuse pose a greater mortality risk than physiological ones.
- To assess the independent and additive effects of drinking problems and consumption levels on mortality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Cox proportional hazards models for survival analysis.
- Employed data from the National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files (NHIS-LMF), a nationally representative prospective cohort.
- Controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, health, and geographic factors, as well as alcohol consumption levels.
Main Results:
- Drinking problems are common among moderate to heavy drinkers and are linked to increased mortality.
- Losing a job due to drinking problems (HR=1.36) and social interventions (e.g., by physicians, family) showed strong mortality associations.
- Social risks, such as job loss, were as or more strongly associated with mortality than physiological issues like withdrawal symptoms (HR=1.23).
- These associations remained significant after adjusting for numerous confounding variables.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol-related problems have independent and additive effects on mortality risk, beyond just the quantity consumed.
- Future research on alcohol and mortality should consider both drinking status and specific alcohol-related problems, particularly social consequences.
- Public health strategies should address the multifaceted risks of alcohol abuse, emphasizing social and interpersonal problems.
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