Elizabeth L. Merrick|Dominic Hodgkin|Deborah W. Garnick|Constance M. Horgan|Lee Panas|Marian Ryan|Richard Saitz|Frederic C. Blow
Unhealthy Drinking Patterns and Receipt of Preventive Medical Services by Older Adults
Brandeis University|Brandeis University|Brandeis University|Brandeis University|Brandeis University|Brandeis University|Boston Medical Center|Boston University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
preventive service use among older adults suboptimal unhealthy drinking may constitute risk factor failure receive servicesto determine relationship unhealthy drinking receipt recommended preventive services among elderly medicare beneficiaries applying framework current alcohol consumption guidelinesthe data source nationally representative 2003 medicare current beneficiary survey sample included communitydwelling feeforservice medicare beneficiaries 65 years older n 10523 based selfreported drinking respondents categorized nondrinkers withinguidelines drinkers exceeding monthly daily limits heavy episodic drinkers using survey claims data influenza vaccination pneumonia vaccination glaucoma screening mammogram receipt determined bivariate logistic regression analyses conductedoverall 703 received flu vaccination 49 received glaucoma screening year 668 received pneumonia vaccination 562 women received mammogram 2 years logistic regression heavy episodic drinking associated lower likelihood service receipt compared drinking within guidelines flu vaccination 075 ci 059096 glaucoma screening 074 ci 058095 pneumonia vaccination 075 ci 059096 nondrinkers compared reporting drinking within guidelines less likely receive mammogram 083 ci 069100heavy episodic drinking associated lower likelihood receiving several preventive services practitioners encouraged screen elders regarding alcohol intake addition appropriate intervention consider elders reporting heavy episodic drinking higher risk nonreceipt preventive services