Alcoholism in older Korean men: prevalence, aetiology, and comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in urban and rural communities

✍ Scribed by Jae-Min Kim; Il-Seon Shin; Robert Stewart; Jin-Sang Yoon

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 69 KB
• Volume: 17
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.687

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Alcoholism in the elderly has received little research, particularly outside ‘Western’ cultures.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and aetiology of alcoholism, and its comorbidity with cognitive impairment and dementia in an older Korean population.

Methods

1134 urban and rural community residents aged 65 or over were surveyed in Kwangju, South Korea. Alcoholism was identified by a culturally validated screening scale.

Results

Alcoholism was present in 16% of men and 2% of women. In men (n = 457), alcoholism was positively associated with manual occupation and negatively with religions encouraging temperance. In the urban sample, alcoholism was associated with higher education and with dementia. In the rural sample, it was associated with lower education and less strongly with dementia.

Conclusions

The prevalence of alcoholism was high in this population. Associated factors and urban/rural differences reflect traditional attitudes toward drinking. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.