Determinants and predictors of heavy alcohol consumption among aging Finnish men.

The aim was to identify socioeconomic, health behaviour, and health factors associated with or predicting heavy alcohol consumption in late middle age (55-74 years) or in old age (65-84 years). The material included a follow-up study of two cohorts of Finnish males resident either in eastern or south-western Finland. The main variables associated with heavy alcohol consumption in late middle age were: relatively young age and heavy smoking. The main associated variables in old age were good mental and physical capacity, occurrence of chronic bronchitis, the absence of certain cardiac diseases, and heavy smoking. Heavy smoking was the main predictor of heavy alcohol consumption 5-25 years later; alcohol consumption 10 years earlier was also an important predictor. Some regional differences were found in associated or predictive variables. The results suggest that, with the exception of alcohol consumption itself and heavy smoking, socioeconomic, health and other health behaviour factors are not very important in explaining or predicting heavy alcohol consumption among aging Finnish men. Drinking and smoking habits were closely related in these aging or aged men.