Drinking Level Versus Drinking Pattern and Cigarette Smoking Among Older Adults.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Limited research exists on alcohol consumption's role in smoking among older adults.
• Previous studies did not differentiate between average drinking levels and drinking patterns as smoking predictors.
• Understanding these relationships is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the independent contributions of average alcohol consumption level and drinking patterns (e.g., episodic heavy drinking) as predictors of smoking in older adults.
• To examine the association between continued smoking and mortality risk over 20 years in older smokers.
• To explore the mediating role of smoking in the relationship between heavy episodic drinking and mortality.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1,151 older adults was assessed at baseline for drinking and smoking habits.
• A subset of 276 baseline smokers was tracked for 20 years to assess continued smoking and mortality.
• Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses, along with bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals, were employed.

Main Results:

• Both high average alcohol consumption and episodic heavy drinking were associated with smoking at baseline.
• Only episodic heavy drinking prospectively predicted continued smoking among older adult smokers.
• Continued smoking significantly increased the odds of 20-year mortality, mediating the link between heavy episodic drinking and mortality.

Conclusions:

• Older adults who engage in episodic heavy drinking and smoke represent a distinct population for smoking cessation.
• Concurrent alcohol misuse and smoking in older adults present a specific target for public health interventions.
• Interventions addressing heavy episodic drinking patterns may be key to reducing smoking and mortality in this demographic.