1996 1996 conference: Parallel sessions: Injury deaths in Estonia and Sweden: a comparative study - Estonia 1996 conference: Posters: Socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption - Germany 1999 1999 conference: The relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular disease in Eastern Europe: explaining the paradox The relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular disease in Eastern Europe: explaining the paradox Britton A, McKee M, UK Background Recent evidence from Eastern Europe of a positive association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease has challenged the prevailing view that drinking is cardio-protective, Consuming amounts of alcohol comparable to those consumed in France have been linked to detrimental cardiovascular effects. One possibility is that this could be related to the particular consequences of binge drinking, which is common in this region. Methods A systematic review of literature on the relationship between cardiovascular disease and heavy drinking and Regular( binge) drinking. Results All existing reviews of the relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular disease have examined the amount drink per week or month and have not looked at the pattern of drinking. These have consistently shown that alcohol has a cardio-protective effect, even at high levels of consumption. In contrast, studies that have looked at pattern of drinking, either directly, or indirectly, using indicators such as frequency of hangovers or reports of the consequences of drunkenness, have consistently found an elevated risk of cardiovascular death, particularly sudden death. A separate review of the physiological basis for a difference between regular heavy drinking and heavy binge drinking demonstrates that the two types of drinking have quite difference effects. Conclusion An association between binge drinking and cardiovascular death nleets the standard criteria for causality. It is important that future studies of alcohol related harm examine the pattein of drinking as well as the amoiint dmnk. 1999 conference: Effect of the core peer group on norms related to smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol among young people in Frederiksborg county, Denmark Effect of the core peer group on norms related to smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol among young people in Frederiksborg county, Denmark Nielsen NS, Denmark Introduction Recent studies of the health behaviour of young people'have shown that the smoking of cigarettes and drinking of alcohol among young people are influenced by norms among their peers, and each individual person must take account of these norms to be accepted by other young people. Purpose The purpose was to analyse the pattern of smoking and drinking among young people study by reference to norms in the core peer group compared to individual characteristics. Material and Methods The analysis was based on data from a questionnaire survey of 6444 students from 331 classes in upper secondaly education in Frederiksborg County. This database includes about 80% of the people about 15 to 19 years old in Frederiksborg County. The importance of each young person’s attachment to various core social groups, including the school and the individual school class, and the significance of individual socio-demographic factors were analyzed in relation to the pattern of smoking and drinking. The importance of the various factors was analyzed using the multi-level technique. Results In some school classes 90% of the pupils smoke; in others 10% smoke. Similarly, in some classes 80% of the pupils drink alcohol at least every weekend versus 0% in other classes. Multilevel analysis also shows that the pattern of drinking and smoking varies so widely between school classes that the differences cannot be explained solely by differences in sex ratio and age composition or other individual factors. Conclusion The most likely explanatory model is that the main determinant of the smoking and drinking pattein of young people is the social norms in their individual class at school. The results suggest that efforts to intervene effectively in reducing smoking and drinking among young people should be based on the core peer group as a whole, especially the class at school." 1999 conference: Prevalence of alcohol problems among elderly patients in an university hospital Prevalence of alcohol problems among elderly patients in an university hospital Ganry O, Joly JP, Queval MP, Beaudot JM, Dubreuil A France Introduction To study the prevalence of alcohol abuse and the prevalence of alcohol-related discharge diagnosis in an elderly general hospital population. Material and methods A randomly selected day, all the elderly population aged 65 years and over, admitted in the University hospital of Amiens were approached and requested to take part in the study. They were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, regarding life style, with the CAGE questionnaire and about their daily alcohol consumption. Medical histoiy of all patients were collected. In total, 612 patients fulfilled the criteria, but 205 patients (33,6%) had to be excluded owing to predefined exclusion criteria (dementia, aphasia, terminal illness ...) and 37 patients (6%) refused to participate. Results The data were derived from 370 patients. The median age was 79 years. 54% reported no alcohol consumption. 9% of patients were positive on the CAGE questionnaire. The prevalence of patients with a CAGE questionnaire positive was significantly higher anlong male patients (17%) than female patients (2,5%). The prevalence of patients with alcohol-related discharge diagnosis was 7%. The frequency of higher socioeconomic status os marital status of divorced increased significantly with alcohol consumption. Conclusion These findings indicate that a substantial proportion of elderly people admitted in a University hospital in France, consume alcohol in excess of recommended limits, or presented an alcohol-related discharge diagnosis. Alcohol use was associated with social characteristics like higher socioeconomic status or single marital status. 1999 conference: Natural recovery from alcohol dependents in northern Germany Natural recovery from alcohol dependents in northern Germany John U, Rumpf HJ, Hapke U, Bischof G, Meyer C Germany Introduction Little is known about individuals remitting from alcohol problems without formal help, and almost no data are available with respect to gender differences in natura1 recovery. Methods 229 individuals who met criteria for remission from alcohol dependence without utilization of formal help (outpatient os inpatient treatment; self helf groups) were recruited by media based solicitation or derived from a representative general population sample. A comprehensive, standardized interview included the assessment of triggering factors and maintenance factors of remission. Results Natural recovery does exist. Female subjects showed significantly lower extents of social pressure to change drinking behavior prior to remission (p<.0001) and remission was less often triggered by partnership problems compared to men (p<.01). Females reported more often health conceixs seeking help. Women reported less often that their partner significantly contributed to staying in remission (p<.05). Conclusion Data show that triggering factors and maintenance factors of natura1 recovery from alcohol dependence differ between men and women." 1999 conference: Health behaviour differences by educational level in Lithuanian adult population Health behaviour differences by educational level in Lithuanian adult population Dregval L, Klumbiene J, Petkeviciene J Lithuania Introduction The aim of this study was to assess health behaviour indicators according to different educational level. Methods Health behaviour survey was carried out in Lithuania within the international project FINBALT HEALTH MONITOR in 1996. The questionnaire was sent by mail to 3000 Lithuanians aged 20-64, sampled randomly from the National Population Register, The number of filled-in and returned questionnaires was 2021 (response rate 68.9%). All respondents were divided into three groups according to their educational level: incomplete secondary, secondary or vocational and high education. Results Smoking habits varied by educational level. Prevalence of daily smoking was 68% among males and 17.4% among females in the group with incomplete secondaiy education and respectively 36.7% and 9.1% in the Group with high education (p<0.05). The males with incomplete secondary education used strong alcohol more often than others did. Every third male (33.9%) with incomplete secondaiy education and every fourth male (24.7%) with high education used to drink strong alcohol at least once a week. The consumption of strong alcohol among females did not depend on their educational level. Nutrition habits were related to the respondents' education. The highest proportion of persons using lard for cooking at home was in the group with the lowest education (39.8% of males and 28.9% of females). The majority of people with high education (64.6% of males and 83.4% of females) used oil for cooking. People with high education consumed vegetables more often than others did. At least three times a week vegetahles were consumed by 58.9% of males and 75.8% of females with high education and respectively 30.4% and 47.7% with incomplete secondary education (p<0.05). Conclusions Lifestyle of persons with high education was healthier. In developing of health promotion and disease prevention programs in Lithuania more attention