Elderly First Time Admitted Alcoholics: A Descriptive Study on Gender Differences in a Clinical Population |
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Authors: | Agneta Ö sterling,Mats Berglund |
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Affiliation: | Department of Alcohol Diseases, MalmöGeneral Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. |
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Abstract: | All patients ≥60 years of age who were first-time admitted to the Department of Alcohol Diseases in Malmö during 1988–1992 were investigated, a total of 218 men and 64 women. Several clinical variables were assessed addressing gender differences. The sex ratio (female:male) in this elderly population was compared with the corresponding ratio of one decade previously (1978-1982). The main findings were that similarities were more common than dissimilarities, except age of onset problem drinking that occurred significantly later in the female patients ( p < 0.05). Sex ratios indicated a significant convergence of female patients to that of males during 1988–1992, compared with one decade earlier (1:3.4 and 1:7.8, respectively; p < 0.01). The former ratio resembled the one found in the younger age groups. Conceivable explanations of the convergence are discussed herein. |
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Keywords: | Elderly Alcoholics Gender Clinical Population Convergence Late Onset |
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