Factors Associated with the Persistence of Risky Drinking Over Time

Alcohol use is often not constant over time. Similarly, patterns of alcohol use can change. To identify predictors of persistence and change in risky alcohol use patterns, researchers used a representative sample of the Finnish population aged ≥30 years, surveyed in 2000 and 2011. Participants reported baseline risky drinking (defined as consuming ≥21 drinks [8g of ethanol each] in a week for men, ≥14 for women), without a diagnosis of DSM-IV alcohol abuse or dependence. Persistent risky drinking was defined as reporting risky drinking at baseline and at follow-up.

• At baseline, 11% of the participants had risky drinking.
• The overall rate of persistent risky drinking was 49% and it predominantly occurred among men (71%).
• Factors associated with persistent risky drinking were: male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR],68), higher education (aOR, 1.36), and smoking (aOR, 1.91).
• Risky drinking was less likely to persist among individuals aged ≥60 when compared with those aged 30–44 (aOR,22).
• Economic activity, living alone, presence of psychiatric disorder, presence of chronic disease, psychological distress, depressive symptoms, age at first drink, and family history of alcohol disorders were not predictive of persistent risky drinking in multivariable analyses.

Comments: This study points to important factors associated with the persistence of risky drinking that could help clinicians identify those in need of intervention. It underscores the relative stability over time of risky drinking, and to the importance of smoking status in the persistence of risky drinking. The possible synergistic role of risky drinking and smoking calls for combined actions.

Nicolas Bertholet, MD, MSc

Reference: Härkönen J, Aalto M, Suvisaari J, et al. Predictors of persistence of risky drinking in adults: an 11-year follow-up study. Eur Addict Res. 2017;23(5):231–237.