Lifetime and 7-day alcohol consumption in the elderly, prevalence and correlates: Reports from the Ibadan Study of...

There is a dearth of information on alcohol consumption in the elderly in Africa. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of lifetime and 7 day alcohol consumption in a community sample of elderly Nigerians and the association of 7 day excessive alcohol consumption to several common health conditions.

Face-to-face interviews were carried out among 2,149 elderly persons aged 65 years and older, selected through a multistage stratified sampling method of households in the Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria (22% of Nigerian population). Using a daily inventory of drinking, lifetime and 7-day alcohol consumption estimates were derived. Excessive alcohol consumption was defined as use of more than 1 unit/day at a sitting or more than 7 units/week. Major depressive disorder was assessed with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview; chronic general medical conditions were assessed by self reports.

Majority (54.8%) of the respondents were lifetime abstainers. Past-week alcohol use was reported by 12.0% of men and 3.6% of women. Drinking rates declined with increasing age in both sexes (p < 0.05). Past week excessive alcohol consumption was less likely among persons residing in rural areas, OR = 0.41 95% CI (0.17-0.99) but more likely to be associated with chronic backache or neck pain OR = 2.04, 95% Cl, (1.0-4.59 and cognitive impairment OR=4.2, 95% CI, (1.21-15.1).

Excessive consumption is relatively common among elderly males. Alcohol consumption in the elderly is associated with chronic pain, cognitive impairment and living in urban areas.