The brazilian elderly population and alcohol consumption: An integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i4.48553Keywords:
Alcohol Consumption, Elderly, Brazil, Public Health, Aging.Abstract
The demographic shift in Brazil, marked by a growing elderly population, has brought about increased attention to the health outcomes of older adults. Alcohol consumption is an associated risk factor. Although traditionally more prevalent in younger age groups, recent studies have revealed an upward trend in alcohol consumption among the elderly, representing an emerging public health concern. However, studies focusing on the elderly are limited, as the majority of investigations have concentrated on younger age groups. This integrative review was conducted to analyze existing research on patterns of alcohol use among elderly individuals in Brazil, highlighting the strong associations between alcohol use in older adults and variables such as sex, ethnicity, age, education, socioeconomic status, health status, and tobacco use. National data indicate an increase in alcohol use among older adults, but there are still barriers to fully analyzing the current patterns. Furthermore, the review found no consistent evidence connecting alcohol intake with chronic diseases or oral health complications in the elderly population. Nevertheless, evidence suggests an association with declining physical performance. No study has addressed the psychological impact of alcohol consumption on the elderly.
Downloads
References
Almeida, M. G. N., et al. (2020). Lifestyle factors and multimorbidity among older adults (ELSI Brazil). European Journal of Ageing, 17, 521–529.
Bagnardi, V., et al. (2008). Does drinking pattern modify the effect of alcohol on the risk of coronary heart disease? Evidence from a meta-analysis. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 62, 615–619.
Barbosa, A. M. & Lacerda, D. A. L. (2017). Association between Food Consumption and Nutritional Status of Community Health Worker. R. Bras. Ci. Saúde, 21(3), 189–196.
Barbosa, J. S. P., et al. (2022a). An assessment of mortality among elderly Brazilians from alcohol abuse diseases: A longitudinal study from 1996 to 2019. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 13467.
Barbosa, J. S. P., et al. (2022b). Drug use among the elderly assisted by the Psychosocial Assistance Center in District Federal Brasília. Healthcare, 10, 989.
Barbosa, M. B., et al. (2018). Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use among non-institutionalized elderly persons. Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia, 21(2), 125–135.
Bendsen, N. T., et al. (2013). Is beer consumption related to measures of abdominal and general obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 71(2), 68–87.
Boyd, J., et al. (2021). Beyond behaviour: How health inequality theory can enhance our understanding of the ‘Alcohol-Harm Paradox’. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, 6025.
Brasil (2012). Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal, 2012. Ministério da Saúde.
Brasil (2021). Vigitel Brasil 2020: Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico, 2021. Ministério da Saúde.
Brasil (2023). Vigitel Brasil 2023: Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico, 2023. Ministério da Saúde.
Camelo, L. V., et al. (2016). Health-related quality of life among elderly living in a region of high vulnerability for health in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 19(2), 280–293.
Carvalho, J. K. F., et al. (2021). Effect of chronic alcohol intake on motor functions in the elderly. Neuroscience Letters, 745, 135630.
CISA. (2021). Definição de dose padrão: Álcool e a Saúde dos Brasileiros. Centro de Informações sobre Saúde e Álcool (CISA).
Chiva-Blanch, G., et al. (2013). Effects of wine, alcohol, and polyphenols on cardiovascular disease risk factors: Evidence from human studies. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 48, 270–277.
Costa, D. N., et al. (2022). Epidemiological profile of the health of rural elderly men in a municipality in southern Brazil. Journal of Nursing and Health, 12(3), e2212320853.
Cruz, M. F., et al. (2017). Simultaneity of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in the elderly in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 33(2), e00021916.
Dantas, L. R. O. (2019). Impact of edentulism on the quality of life of elderly primary care users. Journal of Dentistry and Public Health, 10(1).
Destro, J. S. F., et al. (2022). Vivências de idosos dependentes de álcool: teoria fundamentada nos dados. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 56, e20220064.
Di Castelnuovo, A., et al. (2010). Prevention of cardiovascular risk by moderate alcohol consumption: epidemiologic evidence and plausible mechanisms. Internal and Emergency Medicine, 5, 291–297.
Diniz, A., et al. (2017). Uso de substâncias psicoativas em idosos: uma revisão integrativa. Revista Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 19(2), 23–41.
Dullius, A. A. S., et al. (2018). Alcohol consumption or dependence and resilience in older adults with high blood pressure. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 26, e3024.
EMCDDA. (2010). Treatment and care for older drug users: Selected Issue 2010. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
Ferreira, L. N., et al. (2013). Prevalence and associated factors of alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 18(11), 3409–3418.
Francisco, P. M. S. B., et al. (2019). Prevalência e coocorrência de fatores de risco modificáveis em adultos e idosos. Revista de Saúde Pública, 53(86).
Freitas, M. G., et al. (2023). Consumo de bebidas alcoólicas no Brasil: estimativa de razões de prevalências – 2013 e 2019. Revista de Saúde Pública, 57, 17.
Gawryszewski, V. P., & Monteiro, M. G. (2014). Mortality from diseases, conditions, and injuries where alcohol is a necessary cause in the Americas, 2007–09. Addiction, 109, 570–577.
Gaziano, T. A., et al. (2007). Scaling up interventions for chronic disease prevention: the evidence. The Lancet, 370, 1939–1946.
GBD. (2018). Risk Factor Collaborators. Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioral, environmental, occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet, 392, 1923–1994.
Girondoli, Y. M. (2023). Síndrome metabólica. Orientações em Saúde, Coordenadoria de Atenção à Saúde do Servidor (CASS), Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo.
Goes, V. F., et al. (2017). Do sociodemographic, behavioral, and health status variables affect longitudinal anthropometric changes in older adults? Population-based cohort study in Southern Brazil. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 17, 2074–2082.
Gomes, D. R. P., et al. (2023). Changes in physical performance among community-dwelling older adults in six years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 5579.
Guidolin, B. L., et al. (2016). Patterns of alcohol use in an elderly sample enrolled in the Family Health Strategy program in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 21(1), 27–35.
Halme, J. T., et al. (2010). Alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality among elderly in Finland. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 106, 212–218.
Hugo, F. N., et al. (2022). Prevalence, incidence, and years-lived with disability due to oral disorders in Brazil: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 55, e0284–2021.
Jayasekara, H., et al. (2018). Alcohol consumption over time and risk of death: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Epidemiology, 179, 1049–1059.
Krug, R. R., et al. (2018). Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health factors associated with positive self-perceived health of long-lived elderly residents in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 21, e180004.
Laranjeira, R., et al. (2014). II Levantamento Nacional de Álcool e Drogas (LENAD): Relatório 2012. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia para Políticas Públicas de Álcool e Outras Drogas (INPAD), UNIFESP, São Paulo.
Luis, M. A. V., et al. (2018). O uso de álcool entre idosos atendidos na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 31(1), 46–53.
Machado, I. E., et al. (2017). Brazilian Health Survey (2013): Relation between alcohol use and sociodemographic characteristics by sex in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 20(3), 408–422.
Macinko, J., et al. (2015). Patterns of alcohol consumption and related behaviors in Brazil: Evidence from the 2013 National Health Survey (PNS 2013). PLoS ONE, 10(7), e0134153.
Malta, D. C., et al. (2015). Trends in risk factors for chronic diseases according to health insurance, Brazil, 2008–2013. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 20(4), 1005–1016.
Malta, D. C., et al. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in adult Brazilian lifestyles: A cross-sectional study. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 19(4), e2020407.
Marques, J. V. P. (2021). Fatores de risco comportamentais para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis de pessoas adultas e idosas no município de Ribeirão Preto – SP. Tese (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem Fundamental da Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo).
Massa, K. H. C., et al. (2019). Analysis of the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and associated factors among the elderly, 2000–2010. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 24(1), 105–114.
Medeiros, P. A., et al. (2019). Prevalence and simultaneity of cardiovascular risk factors in elderly participants of a population-based study in southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 22, e190064.
Motta, L. B. (2013). Especialização - Saúde da Pessoa Idosa. Módulo complementar. São Luís.
Mudd, J., et al. (2020). The impact of excess alcohol consumption on health care utilization in regional patients with chronic disease – a retrospective chart audit. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 44(6), 457–461.
NIAAA (2024). Drinking levels and patterns defined. National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Noronha, B. P., et al. (2019). Alcohol consumption patterns and associated factors among older Brazilians: National Health Survey (2013). Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 24(11), 4171–4180.
Nunes, J. D., et al. (2017). Functional disability indicators and associated factors in the elderly: A population-based study in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 26(2), 295–304.
Oliveira, B. L. C. A., & Pinheiro, A. K. B. (2023). Changes in health behaviors in elderly Brazilians: data from the 2013 and 2019 National Health Surveys. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 28(11), 3111–3122.
Oliveira, L. M., et al. (2023a). The alcohol harm paradox and tooth loss among Brazilian older adults. Oral Diseases, 29, 2971–2978.
Oliveira, L. M., et al. (2023b). Binge drinking and oral health-related quality of life in older adults: Socioeconomic position matters. Gerodontology, 40, 529–534.
Oliveira, R. E. M., et al. (2023c). Alcohol abuse in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health care: a cross-sectional study. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 28(8), 2355–2362.
PAHO (2015). Informe sobre la situación regional sobre el alcohol y la salud en las Américas. Organización Panamericana de la Salud.
Paula, S. B., et al. (2014). Alcohol intake among an elderly population in São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences, 13(1), 76–82.
Paula, T. C. S., et al. (2021). Alcohol consumption among older adults: Findings from the ELSI-Brazil study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1–7.
Paula, T. C. S., et al. (2023). Late-life drinking and smoking in primary care users in Brazil. Aging & Mental Health, 27(4), 797–802.
Pereira, A. S., et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. Editora UAB/NTE/UFSM.
Probst, C., et al. (2020). The role of alcohol use and drinking patterns in socioeconomic inequalities in mortality: A systematic review. The Lancet, 5(6), e324–e332.
Qato, D. M., et al. (2015). Drug–Alcohol Interactions in Older United States Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2324–2331.
Reis, J. G., et al. (2015). Indicativos de qualidade para artigos de Revisão Integrativa. Arca Repositório Institucional da Fiocruz.
Reynolds, K., et al. (2003). Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Stroke: A Meta-analysis. JAMA, 289(5), 579–588.
Roizen, R., et al. (1999). Cirrhosis mortality and per capita consumption of distilled spirits, United States, 1949–94: Trend analysis. BMJ, 319, 666–670.
Roswall, N., & Weiderpass, E. (2015). Alcohol as a risk factor for cancer: Existing evidence in a global perspective. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 48, 1–9.
Sandoval, G. A., et al. (2020). Sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and health status indicators associated with alcohol consumption and related behaviors: A Brazilian population-based analysis. Public Health, 178, 49–61.
Saremi, A., & Arora, R. (2008). The cardiovascular implications of alcohol and red wine. American Journal of Therapeutics, 15(3), 265–277.
Schmidt, M. I., et al. (2011). Chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil: Burden and current challenges. The Lancet, 377(9781), 1949–1961.
Schrieks, I. C., et al. (2015). The effect of alcohol consumption on insulin sensitivity and glycemic status: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies. Diabetes Care, 38(4), 732–739.
Siqueira, J. H., et al. (2021). Consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages: ELSA-Brazil results. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 26(Supl. 2), 3825–3837.
SBC (2016). 7ª Diretriz Brasileira de Hipertensão Arterial. Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC).
Souza, J. G. S., et al. (2016). Consumption profile and factors associated with the ingestion of beer and distilled beverages among elderly Brazilians: Gender differences. Geriatrics and Gerontology International, 16, 810–820.
Span, P. (2023). Substance Abuse Is Climbing Among Seniors. The New York Times, 9 Jul. 2023.
Thuany, M., et al. (2022). Perspectives on movement and eating behaviors in Brazilian older adults: A cluster analysis associated with disease outcomes. Aging and Disease, 13(5), 1413–1420.
UN-DESA (2020). World Population Ageing 2020 Highlights: Living arrangements of older persons. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Veras, R. (2009). Population aging today: Demands, challenges, and innovations. Revista de Saúde Pública, 43(3), 548–554.
Vieira, E. C., et al. (2014). Prevalence and factors associated with Metabolic Syndrome in older adults who use the National Health System. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 17(4), 805–817.
Wagner, G. A., et al. (2014). Alcohol use among older adults: SABE Cohort Study, São Paulo, Brazil. PLoS ONE, 9(1), e85548
.
Werneck, A. O., et al. (2018). Association between physical activity and alcohol consumption: Sociodemographic and behavioral patterns in Brazilian adults. Journal of Public Health, 41(4), 781–787.
WHO (2010). Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. World Health Organization.
WHO (2014). Global status report on alcohol and health 2014. World Health Organization.
WHO (2015). World report on ageing and health 2015. World Health Organization.
WHO (2018). Global status report on alcohol and health 2018. World Health Organization.
WHO (2020). Alcohol consumption and sustainable development: Fact sheet on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Health targets. World Health Organization.
Yawger, G. C. (2018). Social Isolation Predicting Problematic Alcohol Use in Emerging Adults: Examining the Unique Role of Existential Isolation.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Gomes Neves; André Rinaldi Fukushima; Maria Aparecida Nicoletti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
