Citation

Skogen JC, Knudsen AK, Mykletun A, Nesvåg S, Overland S. Addiction 2012; 107(1): 98-108.

Affiliation

Mental Health Epidemiology, Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Section of Mental Health Research, Division of Psychiatry, Helse Fonna HF, Norway, Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway, Stavanger University Hospital, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, Oslo, Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03551.x

PMID

21707810

Abstract

Aims:  To examine associations of abstention, alcohol consumption and problem drinking with subsequent disability pensioning (DP), and whether previous excessive consumption ("sick-quitting") could explain some of the increased risk for DP among abstainers. Design:  Prospective population-based study. Setting and participants:  Data were from two waves of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) linked with the national insurance database. The two main analyses included 37,729 (alcohol consumption) and 34,666 (problem drinking) participants. Measurements:  Alcohol consumption was measured by self-reported consumption, while problem drinking was assessed by the CAGE-questionnaire. Information on subsequent DP, including diagnosis for which the DP was awarded, was gathered from the national insurance database. Covariates included somatic illness and symptoms, mental health, health-related behaviour, socioeconomic status and social activity. Findings:  Those reporting the highest level of alcohol consumption were not at increased risk for DP (HR1.12, CI95% 0.92-1.38), whereas problem drinking was a strong predictor (HR2.79, CI95% 2.08-3.75) compared to their corresponding reference groups. Alcohol abstainers were also at increased risk for DP, but among them, the previous consumers (HR1.95, CI95% 1.48-2.57) and previous excessive consumers (HR1.67, CI95% 1.01-2.74) were at higher risk for DP than constant abstainers. Conclusions:  Problem drinking is linked to subsequent requirement for a disability pension but mere alcohol consumption is not. This is partly explained by "sick-quitting".

Language: en