[Impact of confinement measures on the Covid-19 pandemic on alcohol risk consumption.] / Impacto de las medidas de confinamiento durante la pandemia de Covid-19 en el consumo de riesgo de alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: The public health strategies adopted for the containment of COVID-19 have generated psychosocial stressors that act as risk factors for alcohol consumption. The objectives of this study were to establish whether alcohol risk consumption varied during COVID-19 confinement, and how these variations manifested as a function of different sociodemographic variables. METHODS: The study was conducted during confinement with 3,779 participants in Spain. We used an online survey with sociodemographic variables (sex, age and employment situation) and AUDIT-C. Frequency and mean difference analysis were performed (Student t, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis) to establish intra-group variations before the pandemic compared to during confinement, and intergroup for each time period, reporting effect size. RESULTS: Alcohol risky consumption presented high prevalence rates before confinement (25,9% of alcohol consumers), showing a general decrease during confinement (15,1%), both in men (X2=224,829; p<0,001) and women (X2=214,324; p<0,001). Women had higher risk consumption rates both before the pandemic (X2=13,124; p<0,001; d=1,067) and during confinement (X2=26,316; p<0,001; d=2,85); however, men reported higher score in AUDIT-C before the pandemic (t(2343)=-7,887; p<0,001; d=0,322) and during confinement (t(2343)=-5,664; p<0,001; d=0,231). Considering age, significant differences in prevalence among groups were found before the pandemic (X2=22,889; p<0,001) and during confinement (X2=38,302; p<0,001), with the age range 18-24 showing less prevalence. Differences among age groups were also found in the risky consumption scores during confinement (F(5,2338)=43,849; p=0,001), increasing with age. With regards to the employment situation, differences before the pandemic (KW(5,2933)=13,467; p=0,019; E2R=0,44), and during confinement (KW(5,2933)=149,818; p<0,001; E2R=0,51) were also found. Self-employed workers showed a higher score in alcohol risky consumption with respect to full-time employees (p=0,047). CONCLUSIONS: The alcohol risky consumption decreased in a generalized way during the confinement by COVID-19, but the changes in prevalence and risk index were dependent on sociodemographic variables. It is recommended that these findings are considered in the design of public health policies and strategies.

OBJETIVO: Las estrategias de salud pública adoptadas para la contención del COVID-19 han generado estresores psicosociales que actúan como factores de riesgo del consumo de alcohol. Los objetivos del estudio fueron establecer si el consumo de riesgo de alcohol varió durante el confinamiento por COVID-19 durante los meses de abril y mayo de 2020, y cómo estas variaciones se manifestaban en función de distintas variables sociodemográficas. METODOS: El estudio se desarrolló durante el confinamiento con 3.779 participantes en España. Se utilizó una encuesta online con variables sociodemográficas (sexo, edad y situación laboral) y el AUDIT-C. Se realizó análisis de frecuencias y diferencia de medias (t de Student, ANOVA y Kruskal-Wallis) para establecer las variaciones a nivel intragrupo entre antes de la pandemia y durante el confinamiento, e intergrupo para cada periodo temporal, reportando tamaño del efecto. RESULTADOS: El consumo de riesgo de alcohol presentó una prevalencia elevada antes del confinamiento (25,9% de los consumidores de alcohol), mostrando un descenso durante el confinamiento (15,1%), tanto en hombres (X2=224,829; p<0,001) como en mujeres (X2=214,324; p<0,001). Las mujeres presentaron una mayor prevalencia de consumo de riesgo antes de la pandemia (X2=13,124; p<0,001; d=1,067) como durante el confinamiento (X2=26,316; p<0,001; d=2,85); sin embargo, los hombres reportaron mayores puntuaciones que las mujeres en el AUDIT-C antes de la pandemia (t(2343)=-7,887; p<0,001; d=0,322) y durante el confinamiento (t(2343)=-5,664; p<0,001; d=0,231). A nivel de edad, se encontraron diferencias significativas de prevalencia entre los distintos grupos antes de la pandemia (X2=22,889; p<0,001) y durante el confinamiento (X2=38,302; p<0,001), siendo el rango de 18-24 años el de menor prevalencia. También se observaron diferencias entre los grupos de edad en las puntuaciones de consumo de riesgo durante el confinamiento (F(5,2338)=43,849; p=0,001), aumentando conforme es mayor la edad. Respecto a la situación laboral, existen diferencias tanto antes de la pandemia (KW(5,2933)=13,467; p=0,019; E2R=0,44), como durante el confinamiento (KW(5,2933)=149,818; p<0,001; E2R=0,51). Ser trabajador autónomo mostró una mayor puntuación de consumo de riesgo de alcohol con respecto a ser trabajador a tiempo completo (p=0,047). CONCLUSIONES: El consumo de riesgo de alcohol desciende de manera generalizada durante el confinamiento por COVID-19, pero los cambios en prevalencia y probabilidad de ser consumidor de riesgo de alcohol son dependientes de variables sociodemográficas. Se recomienda contemplar estos hallazgos en el diseño de políticas y estrategias de salud pública.

Changes in Alcohol Consumption Pattern Based on Gender during COVID-19 Confinement in Spain.

(1) The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption (frequency of consumption, average daily consumption, and risky consumption) before and during confinement due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the adult population and based on gender. (2) Methods: Data from 3779 individuals were collected via a set of online surveys. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) were used to measure the frequency of consumption, the average daily consumption, intensive consumption, risky consumption, and standard drink units. (3) Results: During confinement, the prevalence of alcohol consumption declined in both males and females, but only intensive consumption showed significant differences, with a greater reduction in males. The number of females who consumed alcohol four or more times per week doubled, whereas the number of males who did so was multiplied by a factor of 1.5; in both females and males, the percentage who presented intensive consumption doubled. The percentage of females with risky consumption was higher than that of males both before and during confinement. In addition to gender, the interaction between age and the employment situation explain consumption before and during confinement. (4) Conclusions: During confinement due to COVID-19, alcohol consumption declined in both sexes, but alcohol-risk consumers increased their frequency of use. The interaction between gender, age, and employment situation was related to these changes. These findings are relevant for guiding public health and health-risk management policies related to alcohol consumption in environmental situations similar to COVID-19.