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The relationship between alcohol intake and falls hospitalization: Results from the EPIC-Norfolk

Tan, GJ; Tan, MP; Luben, RN; Wareham, NJ; Khaw, K-T; Myint, PK; (2021) The relationship between alcohol intake and falls hospitalization: Results from the EPIC-Norfolk. Geriatrics and Gerontology International , 21 (8) pp. 657-663. 10.1111/ggi.14219. Green open access

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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 [1.14-1.73]). 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. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 657-663.

Type: Article
Title: The relationship between alcohol intake and falls hospitalization: Results from the EPIC-Norfolk
Location: Japan
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14219
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14219
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: alcohol, elderly, falls, geriatric, hospitalization, Accidental Falls, Alcohol Drinking, Cohort Studies, Hospitalization, Humans, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Institute of Ophthalmology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10139885
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