Male sex and hazardous alcohol use following military sexual assault increase suicide risk among US service members and veterans.

Background: Higher alcohol use and military sexual assault (MSA) are associated with increased risk of death by suicide. Risk for death by suicide is rapidly increasing among females, who report higher rates of MSA, yet actual death by suicide and alcohol use are higher among males. It is not well understood whether higher alcohol use confers greater suicide risk in male or female service members and veterans who have experienced MSA.Objective: To determine whether the association between alcohol misuse and suicide risk was moderated by biological sex in a sample of male and female service members (N = 400, 50% female) who reported MSA.Method: Participants completed surveys of alcohol use and suicide risk as well as a demographic inventory. Linear regression with an interaction term was used to determine if suicide risk differed by sex and alcohol use severity after accounting for discharge status, sexual orientation, and age.Results: Average scores on the suicide risk measure were consistent with an inpatient psychiatric sample and scores on the AUDIT-C were indicative of a probable positive screen for alcohol misuse. Suicide risk was most pronounced among males who reported higher levels of hazardous alcohol use. A sensitivity analysis examining suicide risk by sex and screening results for alcohol misuse (positive/negative) showed that men with a probable positive screen had higher suicide risk.Discussion: The current study provides novel findings on suicide risk among survivors of military sexual violence by including both male and female survivors. Interventions to decrease suicide risk following MSA may consider alcohol reduction strategies, and optimizing these interventions in males. Engaging military culture at both the US Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to encourage more healthy alcohol consumption may mitigate this public health concern. Future research may consider how country of origin relates to these associations.

Average scores for the suicide risk measure and alcohol use were high among a sample of male and female survivors of military sexual assault.Suicide risk was most pronounced among males who reported higher levels of hazardous alcohol use.A sensitivity analysis examining suicide risk by sex and screening results for alcohol misuse (positive/negative) showed that men with a probable positive screen had higher suicide risk.

The burden of anxiety, depression, and stress, along with the prevalence of symptoms of PTSD, and perceptions of the drivers of psychological harms, as perceived by doctors and nurses working in ICUs in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic; a mixed method evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant physical and psychological impacts for survivors, and for the healthcare professionals caring for patients. Nurses and doctors in critical care faced longer working hours, increased burden of patients, and limited resources, all in the context of personal social isolation and uncertainties regarding cross-infection. We evaluated the burden of anxiety, depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol dependence among doctors and nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) in Nepal and explored the individual and social drivers for these impacts. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study in Nepal, using an online survey to assess psychological well-being and semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions as to the drivers of anxiety, stress, and depression. Participants were recruited from existing national critical care professional organisations in Nepal and using a snowball technique. The online survey comprised of validated assessment tools for anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, and alcohol dependence; all tools were analysed using published guidelines. Interviews were analysed using rapid appraisal techniques, and themes regarding the drivers for psychological distress were explored. RESULTS: 134 respondents (113 nurses, 21 doctors) completed the online survey. Twenty-eight (21%) participants experienced moderate to severe symptoms of depression; 67 (50%) experienced moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety; 114 (85%) had scores indicative of moderate to high levels of stress; 46 out of 100 reported symptoms of PTSD. Compared to doctors, nurses experienced more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, whereas doctors experienced higher levels of stress than nurses. Most (95%) participants had scores indicative of low risk of alcohol dependence. Twenty participants were followed up in interviews. Social stigmatism, physical and emotional safety, enforced role change and the absence of organisational support were perceived drivers for poor psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: Nurses and doctors working in ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic sustained psychological impacts, manifesting as stress, anxiety, and for some, symptoms of PTSD. Nurses were more vulnerable. Individual characteristics and professional inequalities in healthcare may be potential modifiable factors for policy makers seeking to mitigate risks for healthcare providers.

Keeping you connected or keeping you addicted? Weekly use of social media platforms is associated with hazardous alcohol use and problem gambling among adults.

AIMS: A wide variety of social media platforms exist, each offering tailored solutions to attract specific target audiences based on their social media needs and interests. This diversity may pose a risk factor for the development or perpetuation of harmful behaviors. Research has established a connection between social media use and increased health risk behaviors. This six-wave exploratory longitudinal study investigated the associations between active social media use, hazardous alcohol use, and problem gambling among adult social media users. METHODS: Data were collected via surveys in 6-month intervals, starting in March-April 2021 (T1: N = 1530; Mage = 46.67; SD = 16.42; 50.33% male). Of the T1 respondents, 58.10% participated in T6 (n = 889). Measures included the frequency of use of different social media platforms, the 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), and the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Hybrid multilevel regression models were used for analyses. RESULTS: We found positive within-person effects of weekly Facebook use and between-person effects of weekly use of Facebook, TikTok, and gambling-related online communities on drinking. These results suggest an increase in hazardous alcohol consumption over time among the platforms' active users. Weekly Instagram use had a negative between-person effect on hazardous alcohol use. Individuals using TikTok or gambling communities weekly were more prone to problem gambling compared to non-weekly users. CONCLUSIONS: There are risks involved in the active use of some social media services among adult users. Prevention work, including digital health interventions, should be targeted according to the appropriate user group.

Unmet need for alcohol use disorder treatment in reproductive-age females, with emphasis on pregnant and parenting populations in the United States: Findings from NSDUH 2015-2021.

The negative effects of alcohol use can transmit intergenerational harm if alcohol use disorder (AUD) occurs during pregnancy and/or while parenting a child. Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of congenital anomalies in the USA, and heavy drinking in women has been on the rise, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes the most recent patterns in the past year AUD prevalence and treatment among reproductive-aged women, with a specific focus on pregnant and parenting women, and barriers to treatment among those affected. We analyzed data on reproductive-age women from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2021). We used generalized linear models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for past 12-month AUD and its treatment based on DSM-V criteria. We considered sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, income, health insurance type, and arrest history. Pregnant and parenting women displayed lower risk for AUD (PR = 0.48, 95% CI:0.41-0.57; PR = 0.5 95% CI:0.48-0.54, respectively) relative to non-pregnant/non-parenting women. Excess risk for AUD was associated with education (some college vs. college graduates, PR = 1.07, 95% CI:1.01-1.13) and history of arrests (PR = 2.93, 95% CI:2.67-3.21). There were no clear differences in AUD treatment use based on parenting or pregnancy status. Among those with AUD, the prevalence of treatment was higher among individuals aged 35-49 years compared to those 18-25 years (PR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.19-2.14) and in those enrolled in Medicaid vs. private insurance (PR = 2.62, 95%CI:1.97-3.47). Financial barriers and treatment not being a priority were the most frequently reported barriers to treatment. To promote well-being among parents and their children, healthcare providers should prioritize reproductive-age women at higher AUD risk. Decreasing the stigma attached to AUD and intensifying efforts to educate women about the dangers of AUD may improve treatment use among pregnant and parenting women.

Hepatology consultation is associated with decreased early return to alcohol use after discharge from an inpatient alcohol use disorder treatment program.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol cessation is the only intervention that both prevents and halts the progressions of alcohol-associated liver disease. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between a return to alcohol use and consultation with hepatology in treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS: Two hundred forty-two patients with AUD were enrolled in an inpatient treatment program, with hepatology consultation provided for 143 (59%) patients at the request of the primary team. Patients not seen by hepatology served as controls. The primary outcome was any alcohol use after discharge assessed using AUDIT-C at 26 weeks after discharge. RESULTS: For the primary endpoint, AUDIT at week 26, 61% of the hepatology group and 28% of the controls completed the questionnaire (p=0.07). For the secondary endpoint at week 52, these numbers were 22% and 11% (p = 0.6). At week 26, 39 (45%) patients in the hepatology group versus 31 (70%) controls (p = 0.006) returned to alcohol use. Patients evaluated by hepatology had decreased rates of hazardous alcohol use compared to controls, with 36 (41%) versus 29 (66%) (p = 0.008) of the patients, respectively, reporting hazardous use. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups and no difference in rates of prescribing AUD therapy. There was no difference in outcomes at 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Patients evaluated by hepatology had significantly lower rates of return to alcohol use and lower rates of hazardous drinking at 26 weeks but not at 52 weeks. These findings suggest that hepatology evaluation during inpatient treatment of AUD may lead to decreased rates of early return to alcohol use.

Outcomes After Initiation of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder at Hospital Discharge.

Importance: US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) are significantly underused. Hospitalizations may provide an unmet opportunity to initiate MAUD, but few studies have examined clinical outcomes of patients who initiate these medications at hospital discharge. Objective: To investigate the association between discharge MAUD initiation and 30-day posthospitalization outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted among patients with Medicare Part D who had alcohol-related hospitalizations in 2016. Data were analyzed from October 2022 to December 2023. Exposures: Discharge MAUD initiation was defined as oral naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram pharmacy fills within 2 days of discharge. Main outcomes: The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or return to hospital (emergency department visits and hospital readmissions) within 30 days of discharge. Secondary outcomes included these components separately, return to hospital for alcohol-related diagnoses, and primary care or mental health follow-up within 30 days of discharge. Propensity score 3:1 matching and modified Poisson regressions were used to compare outcomes between patients who received and did not receive discharge MAUD. Results: There were 6794 unique individuals representing 9834 alcohol-related hospitalizations (median [IQR] age, 54 [46-62] years; 3205 hospitalizations among females [32.6%]; 1754 hospitalizations among Black [17.8%], 712 hospitalizations among Hispanic [7.2%], and 7060 hospitalizations among White [71.8%] patients). Of these, 192 hospitalizations (2.0%) involved discharge MAUD initiation. After propensity matching, discharge MAUD initiation was associated with a 42% decreased incidence of the primary outcome (incident rate ratio, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.45 to 0.76]; absolute risk difference, -0.18 [95% CI, -0.26 to -0.11]). These findings were consistent among secondary outcomes (eg, incident rate ratio for all-cause return to hospital, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.73]) except for mortality, which was rare in both groups (incident rate ratio, 3.00 [95% CI, 0.42 to 21.22]). Discharge MAUD initiation was associated with a 51% decreased incidence of alcohol-related return to hospital (incident rate ratio, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.34 to 0.71]; absolute risk difference, -0.15 [95% CI, -0.22 to -0.09]). Conclusion and relevance: In this cohort study, discharge initiation of MAUD after alcohol-related hospitalization was associated with a large absolute reduction in return to hospital within 30 days. These findings support efforts to increase uptake of MAUD initiation at hospital discharge.

AUD in perspective.

Alcohol is a major cause of pre-mature death and individual suffering worldwide, and the importance of diagnosing and treating AUD cannot be overstated. Given the global burden and the high attributable factor of alcohol in a vast number of diseases, the need for additional interventions and the development of new medicines is considered a priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of today, AUD is severely under-treated with a treatment gap nearing 90%, strikingly higher than that for other psychiatric disorders. Patients often seek treatment late in the progress of the disease and even among those who seek treatment only a minority receive medication, mirroring the still-prevailing stigma of the disease, and a lack of access to effective treatments, as well as a reluctance to total abstinence. To increase adherence, treatment goals should focus not only on maintaining abstinence, but also on harm reduction and psychosocial functioning. A personalised approach to AUD treatment, with a holistic view, and tailored therapy has the potential to improve AUD treatment outcomes by targeting the heterogeneity in genetics and pathophysiology, as well as reason for, and reaction to drinking. Also, the psychiatric co-morbidity rates are high in AUD and dual diagnosis can worsen symptoms and influence treatment response and should be considered in the treatment strategies.

Current treatments of alcohol use disorder.

Emerging treatments for alcohol dependence reveal an intricate interplay of neurobiological, psychological, and circumstantial factors that contribute to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The approved strategies balancing these factors involve extensive manipulations of neurotransmitter systems such as GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Serotonin, and Acetylcholine. Innovative developments are engaging mechanisms such as GABA reuptake inhibition and allosteric modulation. Closer scrutiny is placed on the role of Glutamate in chronic alcohol consumption, with treatments like NMDA receptor antagonists and antiglutamatergic medications showing significant promise. Complementing these neurobiological approaches is the progressive shift towards Personalized Medicine. This strategy emphasizes unique genetic, epigenetic and physiological factors, employing pharmacogenomic principles to optimize treatment response. Concurrently, psychological therapies have become an integral part of the treatment landscape, tackling the cognitive-behavioral dimension of addiction. In instances of AUD comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, Personalized Medicine becomes pivotal, ensuring treatment and prognosis are closely defined by individual characteristics, as exemplified by Lesch Typology models. Given the high global prevalence and wide distribution of AUD, a persistent necessity exists for development and improvement of treatments. Current research efforts are steadily paving paths towards more sophisticated, effective typology-based treatments: a testament to the recognized imperative for enhanced treatment strategies. The potential encapsulated within the ongoing research suggests a promising future where the clinical relevance of current strategies is not just maintained but significantly improved to effectively counter alcohol dependence.

Scoping review of assessment tools for, magnitudes of and factors associated with problem drinking in population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: The term "problem drinking" includes a spectrum of alcohol problems ranging from excessive or heavy drinking to alcohol use disorder. Problem drinking is a leading risk factor for death and disability globally. It has been measured and conceptualised in different ways, which has made it difficult to identify common risk factors for problem alcohol use. This scoping review aims to synthesise what is known about the assessment of problem drinking, its magnitude and associated factors. METHODS: Four databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Index Medicus) and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 25 November 2023. Studies were eligible if they focused on people aged 15 and above, were population-based studies reporting problem alcohol use and published in the English language. This review was reported based on guidelines from the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist'. Critical appraisal was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: From the 14 296 records identified, 10 749 underwent title/abstract screening, of which 352 full-text articles were assessed, and 81 articles were included for data extraction. Included studies assessed alcohol use with self-report quantity/frequency questionnaires, criteria to determine risky single occasion drinking, validated screening tools, or structured clinical and diagnostic interviews. The most widely used screening tool was the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Studies defined problem drinking in various ways, including excessive/heavy drinking, binge drinking, alcohol use disorder, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Across studies, the prevalence of heavy drinking ranged from <1.0% to 53.0%, binge drinking from 2.7% to 48.2%, alcohol abuse from 4.0% to 19.0%, alcohol dependence from 0.1% to 39.0% and alcohol use disorder from 2.0% to 66.6%. Factors associated with problem drinking varied across studies. These included sociodemographic and economic factors (age, sex, relationship status, education, employment, income level, religion, race, location and alcohol outlet density) and clinical factors (like medical problems, mental disorders, other substance use and quality of life). CONCLUSIONS: Due to differences in measurement, study designs and assessed risk factors, the prevalence of and factors associated with problem drinking varied widely across studies and settings. The alcohol field would benefit from harmonised measurements of alcohol use and problem drinking as this would allow for comparisons to be made across countries and for meta-analyses to be conducted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Open Science Framework ID: https://osf.io/2anj3.

Gender differences in alcohol drinking among adolescents: a school-based survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol drinking among adolescents is associated with their health development. However, the prevalence of alcohol drinking among adolescents in Southwestern China remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking, with a particular focus on gender differences, among primary and middle school students in Zigong, a city in Southwestern China. Additionally, we examined the association between alcohol consumption and demographic and family factors. METHODS: A school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in a city in Southwestern China, encompassing a total of 89 360 students from 132 different ordinary schools, including both primary and middle schools. Participants were recruited through cluster sampling. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption was employed to assess alcohol consumption. Gender differences in the prevalence of alcohol drinkers across various schools and grades were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with hazardous drinking. RESULTS: Out of the 89 360 participants, 19.0% reported alcohol drinking, with 2.1% classified as hazardous drinkers. There was a higher prevalence of alcohol drinking among boys compared with girls, as well as hazardous drinking. There were significant gender disparities in alcohol drinking observed across various schools and grade levels. A notable divergence between boys and girls was observed starting from grade 10, with a rising prevalence of hazardous drinking among boys and a decline among girls. Additionally, older age, male gender and being left-behind children were identified as risk factors for hazardous drinking, while belonging to a nuclear family and having parents who do not drink were protective factors against hazardous drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption is prevalent among Chinese adolescents, with some even classified as hazardous drinkers. These findings may offer valuable insights for policymakers and caregivers, guiding them in formulating appropriate interventions and support strategies.

Different measures of alcohol use as predictors of DSM-5 alcohol use disorder among adolescents - A cohort study from Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study addresses a significant gap in existing research by investigating the longitudinal relationship between various measures of alcohol use and the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in a cohort of Swedish adolescents. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal survey was conducted on 3999 adolescents in Sweden who were in 9th grade in 2017 and were followed up in 2019. Baseline assessments included lifetime alcohol use, recent use (past 30 days), risky drinking (AUDIT-C), and heavy episodic drinking (HED). Follow-up assessments comprised eleven items measuring DSM-5 AUD criteria. The study explores prospective associations between these diverse alcohol use measures and the occurrence of AUD, while also calculating population attributable fractions (PAF). FINDINGS: The proportion of alcohol consumers who met the criteria for AUD at follow-up was 31.8%. All baseline measures of alcohol use exhibited associations with subsequent AUD. Notably, the HED group demonstrated the highest prevalence of AUD at 51.4% (p<.001). However, when calculating PAFs, any lifetime alcohol use emerged as the most substantial contributor, accounting for 10.8% of all subsequent AUD cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores that alcohol use during mid-adolescence heightens the risk of developing AUD in late adolescence. Among the various measures, heavy episodic drinking presents the highest risk for later AUD. From a public health perspective, preventing any alcohol use emerges as the most effective strategy to mitigate the population-level burden of disease of AUD.

Perceived Neighbourhood Disorder, Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Related Problems in Chile.

Background: Alcohol misuse is one of the most important preventable public health risk factors. Empirical research shows that alcohol misuse is related to social and economic losses. Both theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that neighborhood disorder impacts alcohol-related behavior. However, there is limited literature in the context of developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this research is to estimate the association between perceived neighborhood disorder and (1) alcohol-related behavior and (2) alcohol-related problems in the context of the Chilean population. Our contribution focuses on the examination of the perception of disorder in urban neighborhoods and alcohol use patterns in a wide age range and sample of Chilean cities. Results: High levels of neighbor disorder perception are associated with higher levels of drinking and hazardous alcohol use. In addition, perceived neighborhood disorder is directly associated with probability of alcohol-related problems (ranging from 2% to 11%). Conclusions/Importance: The results are consistent with empirical and theoretical frameworks. This research could be used to better guide place-based policies in emerging countries with high levels of alcohol consumption to prevent alcohol risk behaviors and alcohol-related problems.

How well do DSM-5 criteria measure alcohol use disorder in the general population of older Swedish adolescents? An item response theory analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the psychometric properties of DSM-5 criteria of AUD in older Swedish adolescents using item response theory models, focusing specifically on the precision of the scale at the cut-offs for mild, moderate, and severe AUD. METHODS: Data from the second wave of Futura01 was used. Futura01 is a nationally representative cohort study of Swedish people born 2001 and data for the second wave was collected when participants were 17/18 years old. This study included only participants who had consumed alcohol during the past 12 months (n = 2648). AUD was measured with 11 binary items. A 2-parameter logistic item response theory model (2PL) estimated the items' difficulty and discrimination parameters. RESULTS: 31.8% of the participants met criteria for AUD. Among these, 75.6% had mild AUD, 18.3% had moderate, and 6.1% had severe AUD. A unidimensional AUD model had a good fit and 2PL models showed that the scale measured AUD over all three cut-offs for AUD severity. Although discrimination parameters ranged from moderate (1.24) to very high (2.38), the more commonly endorsed items discriminated less well than the more difficult items, as also reflected in less precision of the estimates at lower levels of AUD severity. The diagnostic uncertainty was pronounced at the cut-off for mild AUD. CONCLUSION: DSM-5 criteria measure AUD with better precision at higher levels of AUD severity than at lower levels. As most older adolescents who fulfil an AUD diagnosis are in the mild category, notable uncertainties are involved when an AUD diagnosis is set in this group.

Associations of history of alcohol use disorder with loneliness, social support, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study examined the effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and treatment history on changes in loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms from before to during the pandemic, and tested loneliness and social support as mediators of the AUD-mental health associations. Participants (n = 427) enrolled in the NIAAA COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study were categorized into three groups: healthy control (62.3%), nontreatment AUD (14.1%), and treatment AUD (23.7%). Multilevel generalized linear models were conducted to examine changes in loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms by group. Path analyses tested the mediating roles of loneliness and social support. Loneliness increased during the pandemic, especially in the nontreatment AUD group. Social support decreased in the healthy control and AUD treatment group. Anxiety and depressive symptoms increased in the nontreatment AUD group. Individuals with a history of AUD regardless of treatment history reported greater loneliness, which was linked to higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. Loneliness, but not social support, mediated the AUD-mental health associations. Psychosocial interventions aimed at increasing positive social engagement among individuals with AUD may help alleviate feelings of loneliness and mitigate mental health symptoms. Study findings can also help improve preparedness for future public health crises.

Risk of diabetes and hypertension in a population with alcohol use disorders.

BACKGROUND: A population-based follow-up study assessing the risk of developing hypertension and diabetes associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is crucial. We investigated this relationship by using insurance claims data from Taiwan. METHODS: From the claims data, an AUD cohort (N = 60,590) diagnosed between 2000 and 2006 and a non-AUD comparison cohort (N = 60,590) without the diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes at baseline were established and matched by propensity scores estimated by baseline demographic status and the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). We assessed the incidence rates of hypertension and/or diabetes at the end of 2016 and used Cox's method to estimate the related hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Relative to the comparison cohort, the AUD cohort had an approximately 1.70-fold higher incidence of hypertension (35.1 vs. 20.7 per 1,000 person-years), with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.68-1.76), 2.16-fold higher incidence of diabetes (20.2 vs. 9.36 per 1,000 person-years), with an aHR of 2.18 (95% CI: 2.11-2.24), and 1.91-fold higher incidence of both diabetes and hypertension (10.3 vs. 5.38 per 1,000 person-years) with an aHR of 2.02 (95% CI: 1.94-2.10). The incidence rates of all outcomes were greater in men than in women, whereas the HRs were greater for AUD in women than for AUD in men relative to the respective comparison patients. The risk increased further for subjects with CCI ≥ 1, which was higher in the AUD cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of developing diabetes and hypertension in patients with AUD, especially the differences noted according to gender, indicates that clinicians should address potential comorbidities in these patients.

Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use among the elderly in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is pervasive in the Caribbean; however, the prevalence and correlates of alcohol use and drinking problems in the elderly have not been extensively studied. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study, a cohort study of Caribbean people from Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad, and Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, collected between 2013 and 2018 (baseline study sample, ages 60+, n = 811). Descriptive statistics were used to compare the differences in drinking status (current vs. former vs. never), alcohol problems (Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (CAGE) scale score ≥2 vs. <2), and binge drinking days (0 days vs. 1-2 days vs. ≥3 days) across sample characteristics. Logistic regression analyses estimated the association of these alcohol measures with sociodemographic (e.g., sex), psychological (depression), and cultural (e.g., religion) correlates. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent were 70 + years of age, 64 % were female, and 41 % had less than a high school education. Alcohol problems (≥2 CAGE score) was 21 %. Binge drinking ≥3 days was 30.6 %. Never attending religious services (vs. attending once a week or more) was associated with almost three times higher odds of alcohol problems (adjusted Odds Ratio: OR = 2.88, 95 % CI = 1.02, 8.15) four times higher odds of increasing binge drinking days (aOR = 4.04, 95 % CI = 1.11, 14.96). College education was protective against both the outcomes. CONCLUSION: We provide current estimates of alcohol problems among elderly Eastern Caribbean people. Among the sociodemographic, psychological, and cultural correlates examined, religious attendance was significant. Replicate longitudinal studies using DSM-5 alcohol dependence are recommended.

Pain in alcohol use disorder: Evaluating effects of childhood trauma, perceived stress, and psychological comorbidity.

The relationship between pain and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is complex and bidirectional. The current study examines risk factors for pain in a large comprehensively phenotyped sample including individuals from across the spectrum of alcohol use and misuse. Participants (n = 1101) were drawn from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Natural History Protocol and included treatment-seeking AUD inpatients (AUD+Tx, n = 369), individuals with AUD not seeking treatment (AUD+, n = 161), and individuals without AUD (AUD-, n = 571). General linear models were utilized to test the effects of AUD status, history of childhood trauma exposure, perceived stress, and psychological comorbidity on daily percent time in pain, as well as change in daily percent time in pain across the inpatient stay in AUD+Tx individuals. Overall, 60.2% individuals reported any pain, with a significantly higher prevalence in the AUD+Tx group (82.1%) compared to the AUD+ (56.5%) and AUD- (47.1%) groups. Daily percent time in pain was also highest in the AUD+Tx group (30.2%) and was further increased in those with a history of childhood abuse and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Years of heavy drinking and craving were also associated with increased percent time in pain in the AUD+Tx group. Percent time in pain decreased following acute withdrawal in the AUD+Tx group but plateaued around 25% just prior to discharge. Individuals seeking inpatient treatment for AUD, especially those with a history of childhood trauma and/or comorbid PTSD, report greater percent time in pain compared to those not seeking treatment and those without AUD. The prolonged experience of pain in abstinent AUD inpatients after the resolution of acute withdrawal may signal the early stages of protracted withdrawal. Integrative treatments targeting pain and other symptoms of protracted withdrawal may be effective in improving overall function in people with severe AUD.

Emotional, coping factors and personality traits that influenced alcohol consumption in Romanian students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, after 3 months from the installation of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania, data were collected from 677 students and master's students, to explore the problematic alcohol consumption (AC). METHODS: The evaluation was done with: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales, Strategic Coping Approach Scale and The Freiburg Personality Inventory. The statistical methods used were linear regression with bootstrap procedure, Spearman's rank correlation, and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: More than half were affected by depression or anxiety of moderate to extremely severe intensity. The prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption was low: (Hazardous and Extremely Hazardous (2.3) and Medium Risk (10.2). Early onset increases the subsequent risk of problematic AC, compared to women, men recorded a higher AC (p <.01). Anxiety, antisocial action, personality traits Aggressiveness and Somatic complaints had the effect of increasing the alcohol consumption score (p <.01). Significant but weak positive correlations between AC on one hand, and depression, anxiety, stress and antisocial action on the other hand were found (p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Probably the prevalence of AC was low as a result of the fact that most respondents were studying in the field of health promotion and as a result of the closure of entertainment venues. This study advocates for the education of youngsters to clearly express their opinions without violating the boundaries of others' feelings (assertive action) and to act prudently in dangerous or uncertain situations (cautious action) since these coping mechanisms were not associated with problematic alcohol consumption. The promotion of positive, achievement-oriented, life attitudes is equally important, as these characteristics of the Life Satisfaction personality dimensions were also found as non-determinants of alcohol-induced problems. The association of problematic AC with antisocial actions as a coping mechanism and high scores on Aggressiveness calls for interventions to educate the younger generation how to acquire and adopt healthy mechanisms to control tensions without resorting to alcohol consumption, more so as the two variables reinforce each other. Drinking as a means of gaining courage must be carefully reconsidered since anxiety generally hits back, often in increased levels.

Socioeconomic position indicators and risk of alcohol-related medical conditions: A national cohort study from Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption contributes to excess morbidity and mortality in part through the development of alcohol-related medical conditions (AMCs, including alcoholic cardiomyopathy, hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.). The current study aimed to clarify the extent to which risk for these outcomes differs as a function of socioeconomic position (SEP), as discrepancies could lead to exacerbated health disparities. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used longitudinal Swedish national registries to estimate the individual and joint associations between 2 SEP indicators, educational attainment and income level, and risk of AMC based on International Classification of Diseases codes, while controlling for other sociodemographic covariates and psychiatric illness. We conducted Cox proportional hazards models in sex-stratified analyses (N = 1,162,679 females and N = 1,196,659 males), beginning observation at age 40 with follow-up through December 2018, death, or emigration. By the end of follow-up, 4,253 (0.37%) females and 11,183 (0.93%) males had received an AMC registration, corresponding to overall AMC incidence rates among females and males of 2.01 and 5.20, respectively. In sex-stratified models adjusted for birth year, marital status, region of origin, internalizing and externalizing disorder registrations, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) registration, lower educational attainment was associated with higher risk of AMC in both females (hazard ratios [HRs] = 1.40 to 2.46 for low- and mid-level educational attainment across 0 to 15 years of observation) and males (HRs = 1.13 to 1.48). Likewise, risk of AMC was increased for those with lower income levels (females: HRs = 1.10 to 5.86; males: HRs = 1.07 to 6.41). In secondary analyses, we further adjusted for aggregate familial risk of AUD by including family genetic risk scores for AUD (FGRSAUD), estimated using medical, pharmacy, and criminal registries in extended families, as covariates. While FGRSAUD were associated with risk of AMC in adjusted models (HR = 1.17 for females and HR = 1.21 for males), estimates for education and income level remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, FGRSAUD interacted with income level, but not education level, such that those at higher familial liability to AUD were more susceptible to the adverse effect of low income. Limitations of these analyses include the possibility of false negatives for psychiatric illness registrations, changes in income after age 40 that were not accounted for due to modeling restrictions, restriction to residents of a high-income country, and the inability to account for individual-level alcohol consumption using registry data. CONCLUSIONS: Using comprehensive national registry data, these analyses demonstrate that individuals with lower levels of education and/or income are at higher risk of developing AMC. These associations persist even when accounting for a range of sociodemographic, psychiatric, and familial risk factors. Differences in risk could contribute to further health disparities, potentially warranting increased screening and prevention efforts in clinical and public health settings.