Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the relationship between habitual alcohol consumption and the risk of falls hospitalization.
Methods
The EPIC-Norfolk is a prospective population-based cohort study in Norfolk, UK. In total, 25 637 community dwelling adults aged 40–79 years were recruited. Units of alcohol consumed per week were measured using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. The main outcome was the first hospital admission following a fall.
Results
Over a median follow-up period of 11.5 years (299 211 total person years), the cumulative incidence function (95% confidence interval) of hospitalized falls at 121–180 months for non-users, light (>0 to ≤7 units/week), moderate (>7 to ≤28 units/week) and heavy (>28 units/week) were 11.08 (9.94–12.35), 7.53 (7.02–8.08), 5.91 (5.29–6.59) and 8.20 (6.35–10.56), respectively. Moderate alcohol consumption was independently associated with a reduced risk of falls hospitalization after adjustment for most major confounders (hazard ratio = 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.79–0.99). The relationship between light alcohol consumption and falls hospitalization was attenuated by gender differences. Alcohol intake higher than the recommended threshold of 28 units/week was associated with an increased risk of falls hospitalization (hazard ratio 1.40 [1.14– .73]).
Conclusions
Moderate alcohol consumption appears to be associated with a reduced risk of falls hospitalization, and intake above the recommended limit is associated with an increased risk. This provides incentive to limit alcohol consumption within the recommended range and has important implications for public health policies for aging populations.
To evaluate the relationship between habitual alcohol consumption and the risk of falls hospitalization.
Methods
The EPIC-Norfolk is a prospective population-based cohort study in Norfolk, UK. In total, 25 637 community dwelling adults aged 40–79 years were recruited. Units of alcohol consumed per week were measured using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. The main outcome was the first hospital admission following a fall.
Results
Over a median follow-up period of 11.5 years (299 211 total person years), the cumulative incidence function (95% confidence interval) of hospitalized falls at 121–180 months for non-users, light (>0 to ≤7 units/week), moderate (>7 to ≤28 units/week) and heavy (>28 units/week) were 11.08 (9.94–12.35), 7.53 (7.02–8.08), 5.91 (5.29–6.59) and 8.20 (6.35–10.56), respectively. Moderate alcohol consumption was independently associated with a reduced risk of falls hospitalization after adjustment for most major confounders (hazard ratio = 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.79–0.99). The relationship between light alcohol consumption and falls hospitalization was attenuated by gender differences. Alcohol intake higher than the recommended threshold of 28 units/week was associated with an increased risk of falls hospitalization (hazard ratio 1.40 [1.14– .73]).
Conclusions
Moderate alcohol consumption appears to be associated with a reduced risk of falls hospitalization, and intake above the recommended limit is associated with an increased risk. This provides incentive to limit alcohol consumption within the recommended range and has important implications for public health policies for aging populations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 657-663 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Geriatrics and Gerontology International |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 22 Jun 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
AcknowledgementsThe EPIC-Norfolk study (DOI 10.22025/2019.10.105.00004) hasreceived funding from the Medical Research Council (MR/N003284/1 and MC-UU_12015/1) and Cancer Research UK(C864/A14136). We are grateful to all the participants who have been part of the project and to the many members of the study teams at the University of Cambridge who have enabled this research
Keywords
- alcohol
- elderly
- falls
- geriatric
- hospitalization
Access to Document
- Tan_etal_GGI_The_Relationship_Between_AAM
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Tan, GJ, Tan, MP, Luben, RN, Wareham, NJ, Khaw, K-T, Myint, PK. The relationship between alcohol intake and falls hospitalization: Results from the EPIC-Norfolk. Geriatr. Gerontol. Int. 2021; 657-653. , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14219. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.