--- title: "Prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors. | Sutter Health" description: "To estimate the prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors, and by sex and race/ethnicity subgroup." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors. # The prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption in older U.S. adults: data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Wilson SR, Knowles SB, Huang Q, & Fink A. _J Gen Intern Med. 29(2):312-9. doi: 10.1007/s11606-013-2577-z._ 2014-02-01 ## Abstract BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption and its interaction with disease, medication use, and functional status may result in serious health problems, but little information exists about the national prevalence of alcohol-related health risk in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol use and the prevalence of consumption in excess of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations, in people aged 65 and older, and by sex and race/ethnicity sub-group. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, using data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. population. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand and eighty-three respondents aged 65 and older who consume alcohol. MAIN MEASURES: Participants' alcohol consumption was classified as Harmful, Hazardous, or Healthwise, in the context of their specific health status, using the Alcohol-Related Problems Survey classification algorithm. KEY RESULTS: Overall, 14.5 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 12.1 %, 16.8 %) consumed alcohol above the NIAAA's recommended limits. However, when health status was taken into account, 37.4 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 34.9 %, 40.0 %) had Harmful consumption and 53.3 % (95 % CI: 50.1 %, 56.6 %) had either Hazardous or Harmful consumption. Among light/moderate drinkers, the proportions were 17.7 % (95 % CI: 14.7 %, 20.7 %) and 28.0 % (95 % CI: 24.8 %, 31.1 %), respectively. Male drinkers had significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than female drinkers (OR = 2.14 \[95 % CI: 1.77, 2.6\]). Black drinkers had worse health status and significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than white drinkers (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI: 1.02, 2.17), despite having no greater prevalence of drinking in excess of NIAAA-recommended limits. CONCLUSION: Most older Americans who drink are light/moderate drinkers, yet substantial proportions of such drinkers drink in a manner that is either harmful or hazardous to their health. Older adults with risky alcohol consumption are unlikely to be identified by health care providers if clinicians rely solely on whether patient consumption exceeds the NIAAA-recommended limits. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24101531) ## Research topics - [Aging and Longevity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Aging+and+Longevity%5C%22%22) - [Alcohol Epidemiology](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Alcohol+Epidemiology%5C%22%22) - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Research priorities to advance the health and health care of older adults with multiple chronic conditions.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/research-advance-healthcare-srs-chronic-conds-1055312387) Tisminetzky M, Bayliss EA, Magaziner JS, Allore HG, Anzuoni K, Boyd CM, Gill TM, Go AS, Greenspan SL, Hanson LR, Hornbrook MC, Kitzman DW, Larson EB, Naylor MD, Shirley BE, Tai-Seale M, Teri L, Tinetti ME, Whitson HE, Gurwitz JH. 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Arch Intern Med. 2012 Aug 13;172(15):1184-6. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2360. 2012 Aug 13 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"The prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption in older U.S. adults: data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).","headline":"Prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors.","abstract":"BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption and its interaction with disease, medication use, and functional status may result in serious health problems, but little information exists about the national prevalence of alcohol-related health risk in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol use and the prevalence of consumption in excess of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations, in people aged 65 and older, and by sex and race/ethnicity sub-group. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, using data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. population. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand and eighty-three respondents aged 65 and older who consume alcohol. MAIN MEASURES: Participants' alcohol consumption was classified as Harmful, Hazardous, or Healthwise, in the context of their specific health status, using the Alcohol-Related Problems Survey classification algorithm. KEY RESULTS: Overall, 14.5 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 12.1 %, 16.8 %) consumed alcohol above the NIAAA's recommended limits. However, when health status was taken into account, 37.4 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 34.9 %, 40.0 %) had Harmful consumption and 53.3 % (95 % CI: 50.1 %, 56.6 %) had either Hazardous or Harmful consumption. Among light/moderate drinkers, the proportions were 17.7 % (95 % CI: 14.7 %, 20.7 %) and 28.0 % (95 % CI: 24.8 %, 31.1 %), respectively. Male drinkers had significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than female drinkers (OR = 2.14 [95 % CI: 1.77, 2.6]). Black drinkers had worse health status and significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than white drinkers (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI: 1.02, 2.17), despite having no greater prevalence of drinking in excess of NIAAA-recommended limits. CONCLUSION: Most older Americans who drink are light/moderate drinkers, yet substantial proportions of such drinkers drink in a manner that is either harmful or hazardous to their health. Older adults with risky alcohol consumption are unlikely to be identified by health care providers if clinicians rely solely on whether patient consumption exceeds the NIAAA-recommended limits.","description":"To estimate the prevalence of harmful alcohol use in US seniors, and by sex and race/ethnicity subgroup.","keywords":["Aging and Longevity","Alcohol Epidemiology","Disease Management","Health Services"],"datePublished":"2014-02-01","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"24101531"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1007/s11606-013-2577-z"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24101531/","https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-013-2577-z"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Gen Intern Med"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Wilson SR"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Knowles SB"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Huang Q"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Fink A"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Aging and Longevity","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Aging+and+Longevity%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Alcohol Epidemiology","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Alcohol+Epidemiology%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Disease Management","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Disease+Management%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Services","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Services%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/prevalence-of-harmful-alcohol-use-in-us-seniors-1055312619#breadcrumblist"}}} ```