Alcohol use and physical functioning among older adults in China

Alcohol use and its associated problems among older adults are rising. However, the relationship between alcohol use and physical functioning in Chinese population is under-studied.

Multivariate logistic regressions and ANCOVA were conducted to examine the independent association between alcohol use (never, former, moderate, and at-risk drinkers) and physical functioning (grip strength, handgrip strength asymmetry, walking speed, repeated chair stands, and balance tests) using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study baseline survey.

Most participants never drank alcohol (60.6%), and 7.3% were at-risk drinkers. Mean grip strength was 27.0 ± 9.5 kg, 50.0% had normal HGS asymmetry, and mean walking speed and repeated chair stand times were 4.99 ± 2.56 s and 12.7 ± 5.79 s, respectively. Overall, 60.1% completed the full tandem balance test. In adjusted models, moderate (B = 1.18, p = 0.024) and at-risk (B = 2.13, p < 0.001) drinkers had higher grip strength, whereas moderate (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.35-0.66, p < 0.001) and at-risk (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.45-0.94, p = 0.018) drinkers were less likely to complete the full tandem balance test. Alcohol use was not significantly associated with HGS asymmetry, walking speed, or repeated chair stands.

These findings indicate possible domain-specific effects of alcohol use on physical functioning. Alcohol should not be viewed as beneficial for strength. Clinicians should routinely assess older adults' alcohol use and help them with alcohol reduction. This may reduce alcohol use, improve balance in older adults.