Bidirectional associations between alcohol consumption and health‐related quality of life amongst young and middle‐aged women

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine 2016-04, Vol.279 (4), p.376-387
• Main Authors: Schrieks, I. C., Wei, M. Y., Rimm, E. B., Okereke, O. I., Kawachi, I., Hendriks, H. F. J., Mukamal, K. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcohols; Chair Nutrition and Pharmacology (HNE); Correlation analysis; Female; females; health; HNE Nutrition and Pharmacology; HNE Voeding en Farmacologie; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Mathematical models; Medical personnel; Mental health; Middle age; Middle Aged; Nutritional Biology and Health; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Voedingsbiologie en Gezondheid
• ISSN: 0954-6820; 1365-2796
• DOI: 10.1111/joim.12453

Background Evidence from cross‐sectional studies has suggested a positive association between moderate alcohol consumption and health‐related quality of life but prospective data remain scarce. Objectives To examine the bidirectional relationships between alcohol consumption and health‐related quality of life using a longitudinal study design. Methods A total of 92 448 participants of the Nurses' Health Study II reported their alcohol consumption (in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003) and health‐related quality of life (in 1993, 1997 and 2001). Using generalized estimating equations, we modelled the physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores as a function of alcohol consumption 2 years earlier (n = 88 363) and vice versa (n = 84 621). Results Greater alcohol consumption was associated with better PCS scores 2 years later in a dose–response manner up to ~1 serving daily [mean difference (β) = 0.67 ± 0.06 PCS units, for moderate versus infrequent drinkers]. After adjustment for previous PCS, a similar but attenuated pattern was observed (β = 0.33 ± 0.07). Moderate alcohol consumption was not related to MCS, whereas moderate‐to‐heavy alcohol consumption was associated with lower MCS scores (β = −0.34 ± 0.15). Higher PCS scores were associated with greater alcohol consumption 2 years later, also after adjustment for previous alcohol consumption (β = 0.53 ± 0.05 g day−1). MCS was not associated with alcohol consumption 2 years later. Conclusion Amongst young and middle‐aged women, moderate alcohol intake was associated with a small improvement in physical health‐related quality of life 2 years later and vice versa. Moderate alcohol consumption was not associated with mental health‐related quality of life in either direction.