Alcohol use and misuse in older people: a local prevalence study comparing English and Irish inner‐city residents living in the UK

Abstract

Background: Alcohol consumption was assessed in English and Irish men and women aged 65 and over, living in an inner‐city area of London, UK.

Method: Participants were assessed using Quantity/Frequency measures of alcohol use and validated questionnaires (SMAST‐G, 10‐item AUDIT, SF‐36).

Results: Sixty subjects with a mean (SD) age of 77.5 (1.2) years were recruited. English subjects showed greater changes between lifetime and last year drinking patterns (chi‐square = 18.9, d.f. = 4, p = 0.001). Irish subjects had a significantly higher mean AUDIT score (2.8 vs. 1.0; Mann–Whitney U = 225, Z = −3.5, p<0.0001) and were significantly more likely (14/30 vs. 3/30) to have a family psychiatric history (chi‐square = 10.6, d.f. = 1, p = 0.001). Irish subjects were more likely to drink at least once a week, showed a higher mean alcohol intake (6.4 vs. 2.4 g) over the previous year and were more likely to show binge drinking (8/30 vs. 1/30) and drinking above sensible limits (8/30 vs. 1/30). None of these latter observations retained their significance after statistical correction.

Conclusions: The main implication of the study is that closer attention is required in screening for alcohol use in older Irish men in the UK.

• Alcohol
• elderly
• ethnicity
• AUDIT

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all staff at Sothwark Park and Age Concern Day Centres, as well as those at the Southwark Irish Pensioners Project, for their help in providing subjects for this study.