Search

Objectives: This study evaluated mediating effects of the health status on the association between socio-economic status (SES) and medicine use. It was hypothesized that more privileged people show a reduced use of medicines, as compared with the underprivileged, because of their superior health status. It was further hypothesized that people may apply medication based on their type of health complaint (ill physical versus mental status). Study design: Data were taken from the 2012 German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse, a nationally representative cross-sectional study of n = 9084 individuals of the German general population aged 18-64 years. Methods: Direct and indirect effects of SES on weekly use of analgesics and sedatives/hypnotics were examined by applying generalized structural equation modeling. Self-rated physical and mental health statuses were considered as potential mediators. SES was measured by using educational level as a proxy. All analyses were gender-stratified. Results: Among men, both physical and mental health mediated the path from SES to the use of analgesics and sedatives/hypnotics, respectively, with a stronger effect of physical health on analgesic use and mental health on sedative/hypnotic use. These effects were only partially found among women. Conclusions: Social inequalities in health seem to have substantial impact on the prevalence of medicine use. Identification and elimination of the reasons for poor health among people of low SES may, therefore, not only help to reduce health inequalities directly. A decline in the use of medicines would also result in less side-effects and a reduced number of people with medicine-related misuse and addiction.

Zielsetzung: Der demographische Wandel lässt eine höhere Anzahl älterer Personen mit Alkoholproblemen erwarten, deren therapeutische Versorgung bislang unzureichend ist. Mit der internationalen, randomisiert-kontrollierten ELDERLY-Studie wurden zwei Varianten einer ambulanten psychotherapeutischen Behandlung für Personen ab 60 Jahren mit einer Alkoholkonsumstörung nach DSM-5 (AS) in drei Ländern erprobt. Methodik: Nach der Baseline-Befragung wurden die zufällig zugeordneten Behandlungsgruppen nach 1, 3, 6 und 12 Monaten erneut untersucht. Erfasst wurden Veränderungen (Zeit und Gruppe) hinsichtlich Trinkmenge, Anzahl abstinenter Tage, Anzahl Tage Rauschtrinken und Tage risikoarmen Konsums sowie Anzahl zutreffender DSM-5-Kriterien für AS. Complete-Case- und Intention-to-treat-Analysen werden für die deutsche Teilstichprobe vorgestellt (n=203). Ergebnisse: Für beide Behandlungsgruppen ergaben sich stabil bis zu 12 Monate nach Baseline ein Anstieg der Abstinenzrate (18 %; t0: 4 %), des Anteils der Personen ohne einen Tag mit riskantem Konsum (45 %, t0: 4 %) sowie ohne Rauschtrinken (68 %, t0: 15 %). Auch zeigte sich eine Verringerung der Trinkmenge (Median bei 27 g Reinalkohol pro Trinktag; t0: 58 g) und Anzahl erfüllter AS-Kriterien (Median bei 2; t0: 5). Schlussfolgerungen:Die Verbesserungen des Trinkverhaltens und der AS-Symptome waren trotz relativ kurzer Behandlungsdauer stabil. Motivierende Interventionen, insbesondere die persönliche Rückmeldung zum Trinkverhalten, bewirken auch bei älteren Personen mit alkoholbezogenen Störungen Verhaltensänderungen. Ein therapeutischer Nihilismus ist unangebracht; vielmehr sollten spezifische Bedürfnisse der Zielgruppe beachtet und in passenden Versorgungsangeboten umgesetzt werden., Treatment of alcohol use disorder in higher ages: Results of the German sample of the randomized-controlled ELDERLY study up to 12 months follow-up Aim: The demographic change implicates a higher number of older persons with alcohol related problems, for which therapeutic care is insufficient up to now. Within the international randomized-controlled ELDERLY study two versions of an outpatient psychotherapeutic treatment for persons aged 60 years or older having an alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5 (AUD) were tested in three countries. Methods: After baseline, the randomized treatment groups were reassessed after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Changes (time and group) regarding drinking quantity, number of abstinent days, number of days with binge drinking, and number of days with low-risk consumption as well as number of fulfilled criteria for AUD were evaluated. Complete case- and intention-to-treat analyses for the German subsample are presented (n=203). Results: Both treatment groups showed stably up to 12 months after baseline higher abstinence rates (18 %; t0: 4 %), rates of persons without any days of risky use (45 %, t0: 4 %) and without binge drinking days (68 %; t0: 15 %). Also, a reduction in drinking quantity (median of 27 g pure alcohol per drinking day; t0: 58 g) and number of fulfilled AUD criteria (median of 2; t0: 5) was observed. Conclusion: The improvements with regard to drinking behavior and symptoms of AUD remained steady despite the relatively short treatment duration. Motivational interventions, especially personalized feedback of drinking behavior, evoke changes in drinking behavior in older persons with alcohol related disorders. Therapeutic nihilism is misplaced; rather is it necessary to consider special needs of this target group to implement tailored help offers.

Background and aims Previous research indicates that compared with individuals with lower socio-economic status (SES), individuals in higher SES groups are more often drinkers but those who drink report drinking smaller amounts more frequently. We aimed to decompose trends in self-reported alcohol consumption in Germany into age, period and birth cohort effects and examine whether these effects varied by SES. Design Age-period-cohort (APC) analysis using data from eight waves of the cross-sectional German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA) collected between 1995 and 2015. Setting Germany. Participants The analytical sample included n=65821 individuals aged 18-64years reporting alcohol use within the last 30days. Measurements Alcohol measures included drinking prevalence, alcohol volume and prevalence of episodic heavy drinking (EHD). Educational attainment was used as an indicator of SES. A series of generalized linear and logistic regression models, including both main and interaction effects of age, period and cohort with SES, were estimated. Findings Regression models revealed significant interactions between APC effects and SES on two alcohol consumption measures. Higher SES was consistently associated with drinking prevalence across age (P<0.001), period (P=0.016) and cohort (P=0.016), and with volume of drinking in younger cohorts (P=0.002) and 50+-year-olds (P=0.001). Model results were inconclusive as to whether or not APC effects on EHD prevalence differed by SES. Conclusions In Germany, there are positive associations between socio-economic status and alcohol consumption during the life-course, over time and among birth cohorts. Three groups appear vulnerable to risky drinking: high socio-economic status young birth cohorts who drink high average quantities, low socio-economic status young birth cohorts who show a risky drinking pattern and high socio-economic status adults in their 50s and older who increase their drinking volume beyond th

Hintergrund Schätzungen zum E-Zigarettenkonsum in Deutschland variieren erheblich. Die Nutzung von E-Zigaretten zur Tabakentwöhnung wird kritisch diskutiert. Anhand aktueller Daten soll die Verbreitung des Konsums von E-Zigaretten und deren Nutzung in der erwachsenen Allgemeinbevölkerung Deutschlands dargestellt werden. Methoden Als Datenbasis diente der Epidemiologische Suchtsurvey 2015, eine bundesweite Befragung von 18- bis 64-jährigen in Deutschland (n=9,204; Rücklaufquote: 52,2%). Ergebnisse E-Zigaretten waren einem Großteil der Befragten bekannt (85,3%, 43,5 Mio.), wohingegen lediglich 2,9% (1,5 Mio.) E-Zigaretten in den letzten 30 Tagen genutzt hatten. Jüngere Personen (OR=0,95, 95%-KI=(0,93; 0,97)), Männer (OR=1,45, 95%-KI=(1,02; 2,07)) und Raucher (OR=12,53, 95%-KI=(8,71; 18,03)) zeigten ein signifikant höheres Risiko, E-Zigaretten zu konsumieren. Etwa ein Drittel (36,6%) der Raucher und Ex-Raucher konventioneller Zigaretten nutzte E-Zigaretten zur Tabakentwöhnung, wovon ein Fünftel (21,3%) mit dem Rauchen aufhören konnte. Schlussfolgerungen E-Zigarettennutzer scheinen häufiger männlich, jünger und Raucher konventioneller Zigaretten zu sein. Neben Neugierde ist die Veränderung des Rauchverhaltens ein bedeutendes Konsummotiv. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass der Gebrauch von E-Zigaretten vereinzelt zur Tabakentwöhnung beitragen kann, die Mehrheit der Nutzer aber weiterhin konventionelle und/oder E-Zigaretten konsumiert., Aim Estimates of e-cigarette consumption in Germany vary considerably. The use of e-cigarettes for tobacco cessation is critically discussed. Based on current data, the distribution of the consumption of e-cigarettes and their use in the adult general population of Germany will be presented. Methods The 2015 Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse, a nationwide survey of 18 to 64 year-old people in Germany (n=9,204, response rate: 52,2%), was used as data basis. Results E-cigarettes were known to most of the respondents (85,3%, 43,5 Mio.), whereas only 2,9% (1,5 Mio.) used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days. Higher risk of consuming e-cigarettes was seen in younger people (OR=0,95, 95%-KI=(0,93; 0,97)), men (OR=1,45, 95%-KI=(1,02; 2,07)) and smokers (OR=12,53, 95%-KI=(8,71; 18,03)). About a third of smokers and ex-smokers of conventional cigarettes (36,6%) who consumed e-cigarettes used these for tobacco cessation of which one fifth (21,3%) was able to quit smoking. Conclusion E-cigarette users seem to be more likely to be male, younger and smokers of conventional cigarettes. In addition to curiosity, the change in smoking behavior is an important motive for consumption. The results indicate that the use of e-cigarettes can contribute to tobacco cessation, the majority of users, however, continue to consume conventional and/or e-cigarettes.