Alcohol and Cardio-Respiratory Deaths in Older Chinese Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Schooling C Mary, Lam Tai Hing, Ho Sai Yin, He Yao, Mak Kwok Hang, Leung Gabriel M
Primary Institution: The University of Hong Kong
Hypothesis
What is the impact of moderate alcohol use on mortality from ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in older Chinese adults?
Conclusion
High levels of alcohol use in an older Chinese population were associated with lower ischemic heart disease mortality, while moderate alcohol use was less consistently protective.
Supporting Evidence
- High alcohol use was associated with lower ischemic heart disease mortality.
- Moderate alcohol use was less consistently protective against ischemic heart disease mortality.
- Alcohol use was associated with lower COPD mortality particularly in men.
- The study used two different analytic strategies to assess the impact of alcohol use.
Takeaway
Drinking alcohol in moderation might help older Chinese adults live longer, especially when it comes to heart problems, but too much alcohol can also cause other health issues.
Methodology
A population-based case-control study comparing alcohol use in decedents aged ≥ 60 years from ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with living and dead controls.
Potential Biases
Potential self-selection bias in reporting alcohol use and the influence of health status on alcohol consumption patterns.
Limitations
The study relied on proxy reports for alcohol use, which may introduce recall bias, and the findings may not be generalizable beyond the Chinese population.
Participant Demographics
Older Hong Kong adults, aged 60 years and above, with a mix of men and women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 0.46 to 0.73 for moderate compared to never-use in ever-smokers
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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