Rationale: Alcohol- and tobacco abuse have previously been associated. Little is known about differences in alcohol consumption (AC) between men with and without COPD and whether it is associated with educational level.
Aim: To describe AC and its relation to educational level in Danish men with COPD compared to men without COPD in a rural population.
Methods: Based on stratified sampling from the Danish Civil Registration System and National Health Service databases, a prospective follow-up study was conducted in 155 general practices. Pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry testing was available. COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in one second /Forced Vital Capacity <0.7. We investigated the association between AC and educational level using age-adjusted logistic regression.
Results: In total, 2930 men were included. Of those 443 had COPD. AC > 10 units/week was found in 27.3%/31.2% of men with/without COPD (p=0.16)
In men with/without COPD 17.5%/20.4% had a long education (> four years) (p<0.05) and 66.1%/53.3% had only finished primary school(p<0.05).
In regression analysis long education was associated with AC>10 units/week compared to low education (OR 2.5 (1.9-3.3)), (p<0.001) in the overall population. In men without COPD, this association was also present OR (2.7 (2-3.7)), (p<0.05).
In men with COPD long education was not associated with AC>10 units/week compared to low education (p=0.3).
Conclusion: We found no differences in alcohol consumption between men with and without COPD. The educational level significantly differed between the two groups. In men with COPD long education was not associated with higher alcohol consumption.