Liberto J G, Oslin D W, Ruskin P E
Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21218.
Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1992 Oct;43(10):975-84. doi: 10.1176/ps.43.10.975.
Alcohol abuse and dependence in elderly persons is of growing social concern. The most consistent findings of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are that the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption is higher in elderly men than in elderly women, as is the prevalence of alcohol-related problems. Most studies show a decrease with age in consumption and alcohol-related problems among heavy drinkers. Longitudinal studies show no changes in consumption among light drinkers. Elderly persons with lower incomes consume less alcohol than those with higher incomes. Hospitalized and outpatient populations have more problem drinkers, and the elderly alcoholic is at greater risk for medical and psychiatric comorbidity. About one-third to one-half of elderly alcoholics experience the onset of problem drinking in middle or late life. Outcomes seem to be better for those who have late-onset drinking and may be improved for those treated in same-age rather than mixed-age groups.
老年人的酒精滥用和酒精依赖日益引起社会关注。横断面研究和纵向研究最一致的结果是，老年男性的酒精消费量和饮酒频率高于老年女性，与酒精相关问题的患病率也是如此。大多数研究表明，重度饮酒者的饮酒量和与酒精相关的问题会随着年龄的增长而减少。纵向研究表明，轻度饮酒者的饮酒量没有变化。收入较低的老年人比收入较高的老年人饮酒量少。住院患者和门诊患者中问题饮酒者更多，老年酗酒者出现医学和精神疾病合并症的风险更大。大约三分之一到二分之一的老年酗酒者在中年或晚年开始出现问题饮酒。晚发性饮酒者的预后似乎更好，在同龄人而非不同年龄段混合的群体中接受治疗的患者，其预后可能会得到改善。
