Alcohol Drinking Among Kosovar Adolescents: An Examination of Gender-Specific Sociodemographic,Sport, and Familial Factors Associated With Harmful Drinking

Background: Adolescent alcohol consumption is a significant public-health problem, although there is a lack of studies investigating this issue in Kosovo. Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to examine the prevalence of alcohol drinking, and the factors associated with harmful drinking (HD) in Kosovar 17–18 years old adolescents. Methods: The sample comprised 636 girls and 366 boys (17–18 years old) from Pristina, Kosovo. The independent variables included sociodemographic factors, variables examining familial-monitoring and conflict (familial-variables), and sport-factors. Alcohol-drinking (dependent variable) was measured by means of the alcohol use disorders identification test scale. Results: 39% of the girls and 43% of the boys reported HD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17; 95% confidence interval = 0.90–1.55). A higher likelihood of HD is found for those girls whose mothers have an advanced education (OR = 1.59), who reported a higher level of conflict with their parents (OR = 1.95), whose parents are frequently absent from home (OR = 1.93), and who reported lower religiosity (OR = 0.90). HD is more frequent among boys who have participated longer in sports (OR = 1.49), whose fathers have an advanced education (OR = 1.80), and who reported higher level of familial conflict (OR = 2.87). Conclusions/Importance: The prevalence of HD is high. Knowing the problems related to alcohol drinking in girls (violence, trafficking, etc.), public-health authorities should urgently develop a specific preventive programme (SPP) to combat the misuse of alcohol. In preparing SPP, special attention should be paid to the varying influences of the studied factors on HD in boys and girls.     

Potentially modifiable psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use during early adolescence

This study was conducted to identify factors associated with alcohol use among early adolescents. A survey was administered to all Grade 7 and 8 students in 16 Vermont school districts. The questionnaire covered demographics, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, and measures of psychosocial mediators of alcohol use drawn from social cognitive theory. These included positive and negative expectancies about alcohol effects, perceived peer and parent alcohol norms, perceived prevalence of adolescent alcohol use, and confidence in ability to refuse alcohol. Of the 2919 respondents, 29% reported having at least one drink of beer in the preceding 30 days. In logistic regression, factors independently related to risk of drinking beer in the past 30 days were smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-3.0), marijuana use (OR 3.9, 95% CI 3.0-5.2), negative expectancies (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.6), parent norms (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), and estimated percentage of high school students who drink (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5). Gender, positive alcohol expectancies, and lack of confidence in ability to refuse alcohol all significantly interacted with peer norm, with these items more strongly associated with alcohol use when peer norm is toward "shouldn't drink." Modifiable perceptions of alcohol use were strongly associated with actual use in this adolescent sample, providing a basis for intervention program design.     

新冠肺炎疫情下饮酒者饮酒渴望及饮酒量增加的相关因素调查

目的:了解饮酒者在新冠肺炎疫情背景下饮酒渴望及每周饮酒量增加状况及相关因素.方法:2020年2月16日至22日,通过网络调查问卷的形式开展横断面调查研究.采用自编调查问卷评估饮酒者每周饮酒量增加状况及失眠症状,采用酒精使用障碍筛查量表(Alcohol Use disorders Identification Test,...     

Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux: prevalence, severity, duration and associated factors in a Spanish population

AIM: To measure the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms and to identify associated factors in a representative sample of the Spanish population. METHODS: A telephone survey of 2500 subjects was performed using a validated questionnaire. The association of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms (defined as the presence of heartburn or acid regurgitation) and their clinical characteristics with potential risk factors was summarized using the odds ratios (OR) obtained by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The response rate was 71.2%. The annual prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms was 31.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 29.8-33.4] and the weekly prevalence was 9.8% (95% CI, 8.6-10.9). Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms were associated with excess weight (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.23-1.92), obesity (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.30-2.32), the psychosomatic symptom score (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 2.41-3.67) and the presence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in a direct family member (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.17-2.23). Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms of > or =10 years' duration were more frequent in obese subjects (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.14-3.22) and those with a direct family member with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.44-4.06). Factors associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms of < or =1 year duration were a spouse with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.39-3.9) and the consumption of 1-5 aspirins/week (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.01-2.86). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of frequent gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in Spain is lower than that observed in other Western populations. The psychosomatic symptom score is the factor most strongly associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms. Long-term gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms are associated with certain genetic factors (obesity, family history of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms), whereas short-term gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms are associated with factors of probable environmental nature.     

Age and sex differences in factors associated with the onset of cannabis use: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate age and sex differences in factors associated with the onset of cannabis use among adolescents. METHODS: A representative sample of schoolchildren from secondary schools in Barcelona (n=1056) was selected and followed-up from the first to the fourth year of secondary education (7-10th grades). The participants completed a self-administered lifestyle questionnaire each year. Multilevel logistic regression models were used for each year and sex to analyse predictors of cannabis use; the second level was adjusted by school. RESULTS: Onset of cannabis use during follow-up was associated with a prior history of tobacco smoking [odds ratio (OR)=7.7 in boys; OR=3.8 in girls], alcohol consumption (OR=6.4 in boys; OR=3.2 in girls), antisocial behavior (OR=2.8 in boys; OR=2.2 in girls), intention to use drugs (OR=3.5 in boys; OR=4.2 in girls), drug use among friends (OR=2.5 in boys; OR=3.7 in girls) and spending leisure time in bars or discos (OR=2.1 in boys; OR=3.8 in girls). Moreover, among girls, attending state schools (OR=2.9), low academic performance (OR=5.7) and living in a single-parent family (OR=2.0) also independently predicted cannabis use. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a wide array of predictive factors in cannabis use onset that largely differed by age and sex. The results support the role of tobacco and alcohol, as well as the influence of drug use among friends, and the importance of leisure time patterns as facilitators of cannabis use.     

Psychosocial Factors Related to Cannabis Use Disorders

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to explore the association between psychosocial risk and protective factors and cannabis use disorders (CUDs) in a cohort of African American and Puerto Rican young adults. A representative sample (N = 838) from the East Harlem area of New York City was assessed at 4 points in time (at mean ages 14.1, 19.2, 24.5, and 29.2). The psychosocial measures came from 6 domains: personality attributes, family, peer, work, neighborhood, and substance use. The psychosocial measures were assessed at each of the first 3 waves of the study, and CUDs were assessed at the fourth and final wave of the study. Multivariate logistic regression and a cumulative risk analysis were conducted. Increased psychological symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.39; P < .01), problems resulting from cannabis use (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.33–5.46; P < .01), frequent arguments with one's partner (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09–3.10; P < .05), high levels of deviance (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.21–2.71; P < .01), and frequent acts of violence directed toward the participant (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.42; P < .05) were all associated with an increased risk for CUDs. An increase in the number of risks was associated with an increase in the probability of having CUDs at the fourth wave (again, at a mean age of 29.2). A decrease in the number of risk factors may lead to a decrease in CUDs.     

A population-based case-crossover and case-control study of alcohol and the risk of injury

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between alcohol and the risk of acute injury, examining both short-term (drinking over a few hours) and long-term exposures (past-month hazardous drinking and current alcohol use disorders). METHOD: The study was a case-crossover and population-based case control study. Cases (N = 2,517; 1,432 men) were injured patients recruited from all three emergency departments in Boone County, Missouri. Each case's alcohol consumption in the 6 hours prior to injury was compared to his or her consumption the day before in a case-crossover analysis. Community controls (N = 1,856; 948 men) were recruited by telephone and matched to cases by age, gender, day of week and hour. Case-control analyses examined recent alcohol consumption (past 6 hours), past-month hazardous drinking and past-year alcohol use disorders. RESULTS: The odds ratios (ORs) for injury associated with short-term alcohol exposure were similar, whether cases were compared with themselves (case-crossover analyses) or with others (case-control analyses). After 1 or 2 drinks in a 6-hour interval, the ORs were 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-2.6) and 1.5 (0.96-2.2), respectively. Similar dose-response curves were seen in the two comparisons, with ORs of 6.2 and 3.7, respectively, after 3 or 4 drinks and 9.5 and 13.5 after 5 or 6 drinks. For past-month hazardous drinking, the OR was 1.7 (95% CI: 1.2-2.3). Current alcohol dependence was associated with injury (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.5-2.6), but alcohol abuse was not (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.8-1.1). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol's effect on injury risk is related more strongly to acute exposure than to measures of long-term exposure. The risk is significant even at low levels of consumption.     

The risk of intentional injury with acute and chronic alcohol exposures: a case-control and case-crossover study

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol is associated with intentional injury, but most studies have operationalized it as alcoholism and have not examined acute exposure. The study aimed to clarify the relative contributions of drinking over a few hours and of alcohol use disorders to the risk of intentional injury inflicted by another person. METHOD: The study used a case-control design with two control groups: (1) Community controls matched to cases, and (2) the cases themselves, comparing consumption on the day of injury with consumption on previous days, in a case-crossover comparison. Cases were patients with an acute injury presenting to any of the three emergency departments in one county; 102 had an intentional injury. Community controls (N = 1,856) were recruited by random-digit dialing. Recent alcohol consumption was recorded in self-reported standard drinks. Current alcohol use disorders were defined using DMS-IV criteria. RESULTS: In the case-control analysis, drinking in a 6-hour window was associated with risk of intentional injury (odds ratio [OR] = 10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.7-22). In case-cross-over comparison of the cases' own drinking in the 6 hours prior to injury with their own drinking the day before, the OR was 34 (95% CI: 4.7-250). In case-control analyses, alcohol dependence was associated with intentional injury (OR = 6.0, 95% CI: 3.5-10), but alcohol abuse was not (OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.4-1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Drinking over a few hours is strongly associated with intentional injury. Current alcohol dependence is also, but with a lower OR. The findings may have implications for efforts to prevent intentional injury.     

Substance abuse in Iranian high school students

Adolescent substance abuse potentially holds a number of negative implications for the health and well-being of the individual, including increased risk for injury and death from interpersonal violence, motor vehicle accidents, and drowning, increased probability of engaging in high risk sexual behaviors; and increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors. The aim of this paper is to estimate prevalence of substance abuse among the sample of 10th grade male students in Tabriz City, and to evaluate the associated factors. Of all 10th grade male students in Tabriz, Iran, 1785(13.7%) were randomly sampled. Mean age of the subjects was 16.3+/-0.87 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, substance abuse, smoking status and friends smoking. The influence of different factors on substance abuse was evaluated with a logistic regression model. Among 1785 students 226 (12.7%, 95% CI: 11.2-14.3) had ever used alcohol and 36 (2.0%, 95% CI: 1.5-2.8) had used drugs. The results indicate that older age (OR=1.55), having general risk taking behavior (OR=1.70), higher smoking stage (OR=3.70), having self-injury (OR=1.22), higher socioeconomic class (OR=1.62), and ever use of illicit drugs (OR=5.72) were factors associated with student's ever use of alcohol. This study has shown low prevalence of substance abuse and determined some of its risk factors among students. More studies about adolescent population are necessary to approve the observed results of this study and thus allow for a certain generalization of the observations.     

Intergenerational Hazardous Alcohol Use and Area Factors: The HUNT Study,Norway

Background: Alcohol use among adolescents has been found to be associated with parental alcohol abuse, but it's relation to more prevalent forms of hazardous drinking patterns among parents has been less explored. Few studies have included area factors when investigating alcohol use across generations. Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate whether adolescent intoxication was associated with parental heavy episodic drinking (HED) and intoxication, area-level socioeconomic status (SES), and rates of area-level HED. Methods: General Estimation Equations (GEE) was applied to analyze data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (2006–08) including 2,306 adolescents. Adolescent alcohol use was defined by self-reported frequency of intoxication. Parental alcohol use was defined by parental self-reports of drinking five glasses of alcohol at one occasion (HED), whether they had been strongly intoxicated, and adolescent reports of seeing parents intoxicated. Area-level SES and HED were based on data from HUNT3 and Statistics Norway. Results: Parental and offspring alcohol use were associated, although this varied to some extent with gender and exposures. The strongest associations were found between offspring intoxication and offspring reports of seeing their parent intoxicated (girls: OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.3–4.7; boys: OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.4–4.7). Intoxication was more common among girls, who lived in areas with a higher level of adult HED. Living in areas with higher SES was associated with less intoxication among adolescents. Conclusion: Intoxication in adolescence was associated with factors at both family and area level, which emphasize the need of both population and high risk preventive approaches.     

Attitudes and behaviors with regards to androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents in a county of Sweden

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate attitudes towards androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents who have used anabolics compared to those who have not. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey was performed in the year 2000 in all secondary schools in the county of Halland on the west coast of Sweden. PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to all classes with 14-, 16-, and 18-year-old male adolescents. The response rate was 92.7% (n=4049). FINDINGS: Those who admitted having used androgenic anabolic steroids differed in several ways from those who had not. Fewer believed androgenic anabolic steroids to be harmful [odds ratio (OR) = 0.15, 95% CI 0.08-0.30] and more believed that girls preferred boys with large muscles (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 3.4-11.0). They trained more often at gyms (OR = 5.6, 95% CI 3.0-10.6), drank more alcohol (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.0-9.1), and had used narcotic drugs more often (OR = 15.3, 95% CI 8.5-27.5) than the other male adolescents. More immigrants than native-born adolescents had used anabolics (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.2-7.9). CONCLUSION: Attitudes towards anabolics differ between users and nonusers. These aspects may be beneficial to focus on as one part of a more complex intervention program in order to change these attitudes and decrease the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids.     

The impact of past alcohol use on treatment response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that past alcohol consumption reduces response rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon monotherapy. AIM: To clarify the importance of alcohol consumption on response rates in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. METHODS: In a single centre, prospective study, median daily alcohol consumption (determined by previously validated method) and quartiles of alcohol consumption were calculated. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using treatment response status as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Overall, in an intention-to-treat analysis, 34 of 115 patients (30%) responded to treatment. In univariate analysis, black patients, especially those with hepatitis C virus genotype 1, high viral load and low alanine aminotransferase were significantly less likely to respond. Predictors of response by regression analysis included alcohol <30 g/day (OR=3.02, 95% CI: 1.02-8.93; P=0.04), non-genotype 1 status (OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.03-3.80; P=0.04) and non-black race (OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.33-5.85; P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Median daily alcohol use >30 g/day is associated with failure to respond to pegylated interferon and ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C. Past alcohol use should be evaluated when considering treatment for hepatitis C.     

Secular Trends in Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder and Its Correlates in Korean Adults: Results from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005 and 2009

ABSTRACT

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) has been found to provide an accurate measure for risk of hazardous and harmful alcohol use, as well as possible dependence. Data from 2 representative samples of 7693 adults in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2005 and 6276 participants in 2009 were analyzed. The overall age-adjusted prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2009 (38.8%) was higher than that in 2005 (32.7%), with a difference of 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9%–9.3%; P = .0002). Men were about 7 times as likely as women to meet the criteria for AUD (odds ratio [OR] = 7.16; 95% CI, 6.27–8.17). Current smoking was the most important correlate associated with AUD in both genders (women: OR = 6.03; 95% CI, 4.40–8.27; men: OR = 2.83; 95% CI, 2.29–3.48). Among women, unmarried (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.35–2.31), less than high school education (OR = 2.71, 95% CI, 1.86–3.96), and lowest income (OR = 1.45, 95% CI, 1.06–1.97) were associated with AUD. These findings provide the most updated prevalence estimates of AUD in the Korean population and they highlight its strong association with smoking, gender differences, and lower socioeconomic status in the Korean population.     

Attitudes and behaviors with regards to androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents in a county of Sweden

This study investigates attitudes toward androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents who have used anabolics compared with those who have not. A cross-sectional survey was performed in the year 2000 in all secondary schools in the county of Halland on the west coast of Sweden. An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to all classes with 14-, 16-, and 18-year-old male adolescents. The response rate was 92.7% (n=4049). Those who admitted having used androgenic anabolic steroids differed in several ways from those who had not. Fewer believed androgenic anabolic steroids to be harmful (OR=0.15, 95% CI 0.08-0.30) and more believed that girls preferred boys with large muscles (OR=6.1, 95% CI 3.4-11.0). They trained more often at gyms (OR=5.6, 95% CI 3.0-10.6), drank more alcohol (OR=4.2, 95% CI 2.0-9.1), and had used narcotic drugs more often (OR=15.3, 95% CI 8.5-27.5) than the other male adolescents. More immigrants than native-born adolescents had used anabolics (OR=4.2, 95% CI 2.2-7.9). Attitudes toward anabolics differ between users and nonusers. These aspects may be beneficial to focus on as one part of a more complex intervention program in order to change these attitudes and decrease the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids.     

Attitudes and Behaviors with Regards to Androgenic Anabolic Steroids Among Male Adolescents in a County of Sweden

This study investigates attitudes toward androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents who have used anabolics compared with those who have not. A cross-sectional survey was performed in the year 2000 in all secondary schools in the county of Halland on the west coast of Sweden. An anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to all classes with 14-, 16-, and 18-year-old male adolescents. The response rate was 92.7% (n = 4049). Those who admitted having used androgenic anabolic steroids differed in several ways from those who had not. Fewer believed androgenic anabolic steroids to be harmful (OR = 0.15, 95% CI 0.08–0.30) and more believed that girls preferred boys with large muscles (OR = 6.1, 95% CI 3.4–11.0). They trained more often at gyms (OR = 5.6, 95% CI 3.0–10.6), drank more alcohol (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.0–9.1), and had used narcotic drugs more often (OR = 15.3, 95% CI 8.5–27.5) than the other male adolescents. More immigrants than native-born adolescents had used anabolics (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.2–7.9). Attitudes toward anabolics differ between users and nonusers. These aspects may be beneficial to focus on as one part of a more complex intervention program in order to change these attitudes and decrease the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids.     

Alcohol consumption, glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 genetic polymorphisms and breast cancer risk

To evaluate the potential association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes and development of breast cancer, a hospital based case-control study was conducted in a South Korean study population consisting of 189 histologically confirmed incident breast cancer cases and their 189 age-matched control subjects with no present or previous history of cancer. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction method was used for the genotyping analyses and statistical evaluations were performed by unconditional logistic regression model. The GSTM1 null genotype was significantly associated with breast cancer risk in premenopausal women [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1-3.7], but not in the postmenopausal women (OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.5-1.9), nor in all women grouped together (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.8-1.1). The GSTT1 null genotype posed a similar risk of breast cancer with an OR of 1.6 (95% CI = 1.0-2.5) for the total breast cancer group, OR of 1.7 (95% CI = 0.9-3.2) for pre-menopausal women, and OR of 1.3 (95% CI = 0.6-2.8) for post-menopausal women. The breast cancer risk associated with concurrent lack of both GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes was 2.2 (95% CI = 1.1-4.5), and the risk increased as the number of null genotype increased (P for trend = 0.03). When the data were stratified by the known risk factors of breast cancer, a significant interaction was observed between the GSTM1 genotypes and alcohol consumption (P for interaction = 0.03). An especially remarkable risk of breast cancer was observed for alcohol-consuming premenopausal women lacking both the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes (OR = 5.3, 95% CI = 1.0-27.8) compared to those with both of the genes. Our findings thus suggest a novel gene-environment interaction which plays an important role in the individual susceptibility to breast cancer. p6     

Alcohol consumption and academic performance in a population of Spanish high school students

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to identify patterns of alcohol consumption among Spanish high school students and describe the relationship between alcohol intake and school performance. METHOD: The sample population consisted of students, aged 14 to 19 years, who were attending high school during the academic year 1994-95 in the city of Granada in southern Spain. We studied 1,602 (861 female) students (alpha error - 0.05, sampling error = 5%), using a self-administered questionnaire that contained items about individual and family demographics, quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, and school performance. Total alcohol consumption was recorded as grams (g) of alcohol per week and per day for three categories of alcoholic drinks: wine, beer and distilled spirits. RESULTS: The percentage of nondrinkers was 21.05% for male adolescents and 28.56% for female adolescents. The mean amount of alcohol consumed per week was larger in male than in female students (F= 18.36, l/l,594 df, p < .001) and distilled spirits accounted for the largest proportion of alcohol consumed. No significant differences in drinking patterns were found between students at public and private schools. The risk of academic failure increased considerably when more than 150 g of alcohol were consumed per week (OR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.94-4.43). CONCLUSIONS: Although we cannot draw any conclusions about the causes of the association between academic failure and teenage drinking, our results do show that the risk of failing increases together with alcohol intake. However, it should be noted that academic achievement is also influenced by many factors other than alcohol consumption.     

Overlap of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome: prevalence and risk factors in the general population

BACKGROUND: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome may occur more often than expected by chance, but little community data exists and risk factors are unknown. AIM: To determine prevalence and risk factors for overlap of GERD and irritable bowel disease. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted by mailing a valid symptom questionnaire to eligible residents of Olmsted County, MN, aged 30-95 years. Irritable bowel syndrome were defined by Rome III; GERD was defined by weekly or more frequent heartburn and/or acid regurgitation. RESULTS: 2298 questionnaires returned (women 52%, 55% response). Irritable bowel syndrome and GERD occurred together more commonly than expected by chance; the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap, GERD alone and irritable bowel syndrome alone were 3%, 15% and 5% in men, and 4%, 14% and 10% in women, respectively. Predictors of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. irritable bowel syndrome alone, and separately, GERD alone, were insomnia (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.06-1.70; OR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.13-1.90, respectively) and frequent abdominal pain (OR 3.9, 2.2-6.7; OR 1.8, 1.02-3.2, respectively). An additional predictor of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. GERD alone was higher somatization (OR 1.7, 1.1-2.4) and for irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. irritable bowel syndrome alone was a higher body mass index (OR 1.0, 1.003-1.07). CONCLUSIONS: Irritable bowel syndrome and GERD overlap is common in the population and does not occur by chance.     

Association between weight status and recreational drug abuse in Korean adolescents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between weight status and recreational drug use in Korean adolescents. A total of 72,399 adolescent students (38,152 boys and 34,247 girls) from the middle first to high third grade participated in the 5^th Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-V) project in 2009. They were assessed for body mass index (BMI) and recreational drug abuse. The associations between BMI and recreational drug use were examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the covariate variables of age, smoking frequency and cigarette consumption, frequency of alcohol consumption and severe alcohol intoxication, amount of alcohol consumed, parents’ education level, economic status, sedentary activities during the week, mental stress, sleep duration, frequency of vigorous and moderate physical activities, and muscular strength exercises during the week. For boys, the odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) between overweight and drug use were 0.990 (0.723–1.356; p = 0.950) for almost none, 0.939 (0.521–1.693; p = 0.834) for past use, and 0.791 (0.385–1.624; p = 0.523) for present use. The OR (95% CI) between obesity and drug use was 0.731(0.508–1.052; p = 0.091) for almost none, 0.755 (0.389–1.465; p = 0.407) for past use, and 0.701 (0.314–1.565; p = 0.386) for present use. For girls, the OR (95% CI) between overweight and drug use was 1.112 (0.702–1.763; p = 0.650) for almost none, 1.103 (0.464–2.619; p = 0.825) for past use, and 0.927 (0.267–3.218; p = 0.905) for present use. The OR (95% CI) between obesity and drug abuse was 0.594 (0.261–1.352; p = 0.215) for almost none, 1.318 (0.462–3.764; p = 606) for past use, and <0.001(<0.001–<0.001; p = 0.998) for present use. We concluded that recreational drug use had no correlation with overweight and obesity in Korean adolescents.