Alcohol intake and survival in the elderly: A 77 month follow-up in the Dubbo study

Background: A prospective study in non-institutionalised Australian elderly aged 60 years and over commenced in Dubbo, NSW in 1988. Aim: To examine the relationship between all-causes mortality and alcohol intake. Methods: The data were derived from a community-based sample comprising 1236 men and 1569 women followed for a median period of 77 months. Regular alcohol intake was reported by 78% of men and 52% of women. Eighty-seven per cent of men and 44% of women primarily drank beer. Results: Death occurred in 305 men and 236 women 34% and 39% respectively from coronary heart disease (CHD). In a proportional hazards model, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-causes mortality in male drinkers, compared with abstainers was 0.75 at one-seven drinks/week, 0.76 at eight-14 drinks/week, 0.69 at 15-28 drinks/week and 0.49 at > 28 drinks/week (p < 0.04), an inverse relationship. In female drinkers, HR was 0.78 at one-seven drinks/week, 0.49 at eight-14 drinks/week (p < 0.04) and 0.62 at 15-28 drinks/week, potentially a U shaped relationship. The effect-on all-causes mortality could not be attributed to a differential effect of beer versus wine/spirit intake. Although the mortality rate was lower in those taking any alcohol compared with abstainers, those taking any alcohol exhibited an increased proportion of deaths due to cancer at-the expense of a reduced proportion of CHD and stroke deaths. Conclusions: Alcohol intake in the Dubbo elderly appears to be independently associated with a significant increase in life expectancy. Mechanisms underlying the effect may emerge at a longer interval of follow-up.