Change in Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Quality of Life: Evidence from 2 Population-Based Cohorts
Research article
Abstract
Background
Although the association of moderate alcohol consumption with specific disorders, such as cardiovascular disease and cancers, has been well documented, the evidence of the broader impact of alcohol consumption on health-related quality of life is less clear. The study objective was to examine the association of alcohol consumption patterns with changes in physical and mental well-being across populations.
Methods
The researchers conducted a multilevel analysis with multivariate responses in the population-representative FAMILY Cohort in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, to examine the association between alcohol consumption patterns across 2 waves (2009–2013) (i.e., quitters, initiators, persistent alcohol users, persistent former alcohol users and lifetime abstainers) and changes in physical and mental well-being (Physical and Mental Component Summary of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12]).
Analyses were stratified by sex.
The researchers validated findings using a nationally representative cohort in the United States, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, 2001–2005).
Results
In the FAMILY Cohort (n = 10,386; median follow-up 2.3 yr), the change in mental well-being was more favourable in female quitters than in lifetime abstainers. This association was validated in the NESARC (n = 31 079; median follow-up 3.1 yr) (mean score change of −1.1 for quitters and −1.6 for lifetime abstainers).
Interpretation
The change in mental well-being was more favourable in female quitters, approaching the level of mental well-being of lifetime abstainers within 4 years of quitting in both Chinese and American populations.
