The effect of alcohol consumption on all-cause mortality in 70-year-olds in the context of other lifestyle risk factors: Results from the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort study

Abstract Background The relationship between alcohol consumption and health is not fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of alcohol as well as the combined effect of seven lifestyle factors on all-cause mortality in older adults (baseline age 70 years). Methods Data was derived from the population-based Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort study, including 1124 participants from the 2014-16 examination. Risk consumption was defined as >98 grams and hazardous drinking based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to examine the individual effect of alcohol consumption, as well as the combined effect of seven lifestyle risk factors (high alcohol consumption, lifetime smoking, unhealthy Body Mass Index, insufficient physical activity, sedentary behavior, insufficient/prolonged sleep, unhealthy dietary pattern) on all-cause mortality. Results During a mean follow-up of 7.7 years, 81 (7.2%) participants died. Neither risk consumption nor hazardous drinking were associated with elevated mortality, but hazardous drinking was associated with an increased risk of mortality in those with insufficient physical activity. Those with at least five lifestyle risk factors had an increased all-cause mortality compared to those fulfilling criteria for maximum one lifestyle risk factor, and high alcohol consumption contributed least to this risk, while physical activity and unhealthy dietary pattern had an independent effect on mortality. Conclusions In this population study on 70-year-olds, neither risk consumption nor hazardous drinking were associated with 8-year all-cause mortality. Among seven life styles factors studied, risk or hazardous drinking of alcohol contributed least to mortality. It may be that high alcohol consumption is less important for mortality among older adults, especially in those with higher physical activity. However, it has to be emphasized that high alcohol consumption may have other adverse health effects among older adults.