Table 3

Health Correlates of Alcohol Consumption
Daily Alcohol Consumption
 Total Sample N = 7,434
 Doesn't Drink N = 4,146
 Less than once a day N = 2,515
 1–2 drinks per day N = 620
 3 or more drinks per day N = 153
 Test Statistic (df)
 p-value
Self Rated Health Mean
 3.1 (1.2)
 3.3 (1.2)
 2.8 (1.1)
 2.6 (1.1)
 2.6 (1.2)
 χ2(3) = 383.9
 0.0001
Mean # Chronic Illnesses
 1.6 (1.2)
 1.7 (1.2)
 1.4 (1.1)
 1.3 (1.1)
 1.4 (1.2)
 χ2 (3) = 135.4
 0.0001
% Stroke
 10.6
 12.6
 8.4
 7.4
 5.9
 χ2 (3) = 41.2
 0.0001
% Heart Disease
 31.6
 34.2
 29.1
 25.8
 22.9
 χ2 (3)= 35.3
 0.0001
% Diabetes
 13.3
 16.6
 10.1
 6.1
 7.2
 χ2 (3) = 95.4
 0.0001
BMI
 25.4(4.5)
 25.4(4.7)
 25.5(4.3)
 24.8(3.7)
 25.5(3.8)
 χ2 (3) = 10.6
 0.01
Smoking Status




χ2 (6) = 452.7
 0.0001
1 = Current
 10.0
 8.2
 9.8
 17.1
 30.1

2 = Former
 42.5
 35.5
 48.3
 61.3
 60.1

3 = Never
 47.5
 56.3
 41.9
 21.6
 9.8

% Falls
 7.7
 8.3
 7.0
 7.4
 5.9
 χ2 (3) = 4.8
 0.19.
% Hip Fracture
 5.0
 5.8
 4.2
 3.7
 2.0
 χ2 (3) = 14.5
 0.002
% any ADL
 30.5
 37.5
 23.3
 15.3
 18.3
 χ2 (3) = 236.3
 0.0001
% any IADL
 31.0
 38.5
 22.4
 19.5
 15.0
 χ2 (3) = 253.1
 0.0001
Mean CES-D*
 1.7(1.9)
 1.9(2.1)
 1.5(1.9)
 1.2(1.7)
 1.3(1.7)
 χ2 (3) = 118.5
 0.0001
Mean TICS-R*
 19.5(5.9)
 18.2(6.1)
 20.8 (5.3)
 21.6(4.6)
 21.3(5.4)
 χ2 (3) = 366.0
 0.0001

Note: Kruskal Wallis tests were used for continuous variables (BMI, TICS-R) as these did not have normal distributions. Means and standard deviations are given for descriptive purposes only. BMI = Body Mass Index, ADL = Activities of Daily Living, IADL = Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, TICS-R = Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status- Revised. *For analyses using the CES-D, N = 6,649. For those using the TICS-R, N = 6,351.

Turvey et al. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2006 1:8   doi:10.1186/1747-597X-1-8

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