Available online 7 November 2022, 109691

This study used a decades approach which provides a unique perspective for observing changes in drinking through specific lifecourse decades before and after diagnosis of a specific health condition.

Those reporting quitting drinking after disease onset of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes or cancer were significantly more likely to reduce heavy drinking in the subsequent decade following onset.

Just cutting down on drinking following disease onset has little effect on long-term heavy drinking in the subsequent decade

Literature on changes in drinking following diagnosis of chronic health conditions is limited, especially differential response to specific conditions or across demographic subgroups. Methods Data were analyzed from the 2020 National Alcohol Survey of the U.S. adult population (n=9,968). Predictors of change in drinking following first diagnosis of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and how the short-term post-disease change in drinking was associated with a change in long-term heavy (5+) drinking from the decade before diagnosis to the decade following diagnosis were analyzed. Results The majority of respondents reported no change in drinking after diagnosis. Men were more likely than women to reduce drinking after hypertension (OR=1.47) but less likely to quit after heart disease (OR=0.46). Black and Hispanic/Latinx drinkers were more likely than white or other drinkers to reduce (OR=2.68, 2.35, respectively) or quit (OR=2.69, 2.34) after hypertension, and more likely to quit after diabetes (OR=3.44, 2.74) and cancer (OR=5.00, 5.27). Black drinkers were more likely to quit after heart disease (OR=3.26). Heavier drinkers were more likely to reduce or quit drinking than lighter drinkers. For all disease types, those who quit drinking after disease onset were less likely to report heavy drinking in the following decade. Conclusions Just cutting down had little effect on subsequent long-term heavy drinking compared to quitting. These data are important for informing efforts aimed at harm reduction in patients diagnosed with a chronic health condition and suggest specific demographic subgroups.

health condition

reducing drinking

reducing 5+ drinking

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