The Medicine, Health, and Aging Project
A Follow-up Study of Alcohol Use and Health Among Elderly Receiving Cardiovascular Alcohol-Interactive Prescription Drugs
Funding
Alcohol Beverage Medical Research Foundation (ABMRF)
Period
1/1/94-12/31/98
Principal Investigator
Frank Ahern, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
Carol H. Gold, Ph.D.
Background
During the period 1990-1991, a large sample of elderly in the PACE program who were known to be using alcohol interactive prescription drugs completed telephone and mail surveys regarding use of alcohol in combination with alcohol-interactive prescription drugs.
Objectives
The major goal for this study was to conduct a follow-up study on elderly who were known to be using cardiovascular-related prescription drugs. The specific aims for the follow-up study were to: (1) assess inter-individual change and stability of alcohol and prescription drug use with specific attention to cardiovascular alcohol-interactive drugs; (2) determine the association of change and stability of the alcohol- and drug- related behavior patterns with both baseline and follow-up measures of socio-demographic characteristics, and measures of physical and mental health status and functional status; and (3) assess both self-reported and objectively measured (via drug claims records) health status and changes in health and functional status, and the association of these changes with patterns of long-term concomitant use of alcohol and cardiovascular alcohol-interactive drugs.