Hazardous alcohol consumption and problem drinking in Norwegian and Russian women and men: The Tromsø Study 2015–2016 and the Know Your Heart study 2015–2018

Aim: Harmful use of alcohol is a worldwide public health concern. Cultural differences may affect responses to questions on alcohol problems, making international comparisons difficult. We aimed to compare self-reported alcohol consumption and problem drinking between Norwegian and Russian populations. Methods: We used data from women and men aged 40–69 years participating in the Tromsø Study seventh survey (Tromsø7, N=17646, participation 65%), Tromsø (2015–2016), Norway, and the Know Your Heart study (KYH, N=4099, participation 51%), Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk (2015–2018), Russia. Alcohol consumption and problem drinking were measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) via questionnaires (Tromsø7) and interviews (KYH). We compared AUDIT scores and components between populations, by sex. Results: Non-drinking was more commonly reported in KYH compared with Tromsø7 (men 15.5% versus 4.9%, women 13.3% versus 7.3%). In men, hazardous consumption (41.4% versus 31.5%) and problem drinking (24.8% versus 19.6%) was higher in KYH compared with Tromsø7, but opposite for women (6.5% versus 12.0%, and 2.3% versus 5.8%). KYH men were less likely to report problem drinking behaviours than Tromsø7 men, with the exception of needing a drink first thing in the morning (13.2% versus 2.4%). KYH women consistently reported less consumption and problem drinking than Tromsø7 women. Conclusions: We found between-study differences in hazardous drinking, but in men these were lower than suggested by differences in country-level statistics on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related health-harms. Study sample selection, stronger social desirability bias effects in the Russian samples, and cultural differences in responding could have affected the results.

Behavioral and Genetic Factors Associated with Successful Long-Term Cessation in Persons with HIV Who Smoke Cigarettes

Background. Persons with HIV (PWH) smoke cigarettes at much higher rates than the general population in the US, and smoking is now the leading cause of death in US PWH. Efforts to control the tobacco use epidemic in PWH have met with limited success, and the factors associated with successful cessation are not well delineated. There is a particular dearth of knowledge regarding PWH ex-smokers who have successfully quit smoking cigarettes for the long term. Methods. We pooled data from three separate sources of PWH smokers and ex-smokers (reporting complete abstinence for ≥ one year with biochemical verification at the time of data collection) from New York City, collected sociodemographic and behavioral information from them in structured interviews, and obtained their DNA samples. Univariate and rigorous multivariate analytic strategies were employed to determine the sociobehavioral and genetic factors that distinguished PWH smokers from ex-smokers. Results. We compared 142 current/recent smokers to 52 biochemically confirmed ex-smokers. The mean age of the participants was 53.3 ± 9.9 years, 49.5% were female, and 76.3% were Black/African American. Successful quitters had significantly lower anxiety scores and were less likely to report hazardous alcohol use or to use marijuana or cocaine. On multivariate analysis utilizing a conservative analytic approach, of 156 single nucleotide variants (SNV) within 12 a priori candidate genes, only the 37148248 T->C variant of gene SLC25A21 on chromosome 14 was associated with long-term cessation. Conclusions. In this study, we report behavioral variables associated with long-term abstinence in PWH ex-smokers, and we also report the first genetic correlation of successful cessation in a PWH population yet described.

COVID-19, Older People’s Alcohol Use and Engagement With Support: A Rapid Evidence Synthesis

COVID-19, and associated restrictions, have likely impacted older people’s alcohol use and related support needs, given disrupted routines and stress increase alcohol use in older populations. This rapid evidence synthesis aimed to examine older people’s (aged 50+) alcohol use, and engagement with alcohol support services during COVID-19. Seventy-six articles were identified through systematic database searches, reporting 63 survey, five qualitative, three pilot, and five hospital admission studies; of general and service-user populations of older drinkers. Data were drawn together through narrative synthesis. Alcohol use increased for up to 32% of older people, including service-users; particularly older women. Increased use was linked to anxiety, depression and emotional distress. Decreased use was more common in some older populations; particularly Mediterranean. Barriers such as web access and safe transport affected older service-users’ engagement with support. Support to address hazardous alcohol use amongst older people must be prioritised in wake of the pandemic.

Prevalence and characteristics of ever regular use of non-combustible nicotine for 1 year or more: a population survey in England

Introduction Up-to-date monitoring of non-combustible nicotine products (e.g. e-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), heated tobacco products (HTP); NNP) is important to assess their impact. To date, there is little evidence on the association between ever regular use (defined here as 1 year or more) of NNP and current smoking status. Aims/methods The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence, and sociodemographic, alcohol and smoking status correlates, of ever regular use of NNP in England in 2020. A cross-sectional survey of adults in England was conducted between February and June 2020. Results A total of 8486 adults were surveyed; 94.9% (8055) were complete cases. The weighted prevalence of ever regular NNP use was 5.4% (n = 436; 95% CI 5.0–6.0), of which 82% (n = 360; 95% CI 78.7–85.8) was single and 18% (n = 79; 95% CI 14.8–22) multiple product use. Amongst ever regular NNP users, the prevalence of ever regular NRT, e-cigarette and HTP use was 64.7% (95% CI 60.1–69), 43.4% (95% CI 38.8–48) and 2.5% (95% CI 1.4–4.5), respectively. In adjusted analysis, ever regular NNP use was associated with smoking status, being significantly higher among current (22.3%; adjusted OR (aOR) 34.9, 95% CI 24.0–50.8) and ex-smokers (12.7%, aOR 19.8, 95% CI 11.1–14.4) than among never-smokers (0.6%). More advantaged occupational grade (aOR, 1.27 95% CI 1.02–1.57) and at least hazardous alcohol use (aOR, 1.38 95% CI 1.06–1.78) were associated with greater prevalence of ever regular NNP use. Conclusions Ever regularly using NNP was highest among smokers and ex-smokers and rare among never-smokers. Among people who have ever regularly used NNP, NRT is the most popular.