Pattern of alcohol use in elderly patients in a primary health center in Goa

Background: The portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption. Studies focusing on problems associated with alcohol use in the elderly are limited. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of alcohol use in the study population and to study some factors associated with alcohol use in the study population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study conducted in the Rural Health and Training Center at Mandur, Goa, India, over 3 months from February 2022 to April 2022 in persons >= 65 years recruited using systematic random sampling method. Results: Out of 207 participants, 114 (55%) were females and 93 (45%) were males. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of the study population was 72.73 +/- 7.87 years. The total proportion of alcohol use in the study population was 35.3%. Among those who consumed alcohol, 64.4% were current users and 35.6% were former users. Among the current users, 61.7% were low-risk drinkers, 21.3% were at-risk drinkers, and 10.6% indulged in harmful and hazardous drinking, whereas 6.4% had possible dependence on alcohol. Conclusions: Increase in aging populations implies that the absolute number of older people with alcohol use is on the increase. Hence, health services need to cater to alcohol screening and treatment methods and services in the elderly population.