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An observational cohort study of alcohol use and cognitive difficulties among post-9/11 veterans with and without TBI and PTSD.
- Source :
-
Drug and alcohol dependence [Drug Alcohol Depend] 2024 Oct 01; Vol. 263, pp. 112419. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 17. - Publication Year :
- 2024
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Abstract
- Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use are highly prevalent among military Veterans and independently associated with cognitive difficulties; less is known about the combined effects. This study aimed to investigate the association between alcohol use patterns and cognitive diagnoses in Veterans with TBI and/or PTSD.<br />Methods: Using electronic health record data,193,663 Veterans were classified into three alcohol use trajectory groups (consistently low, initially high transitioning to low, initially moderate transitioning to high) based on self-reported Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C (AUDIT-C) scores. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between alcohol use patterns, TBI, PTSD, and the risk of cognitive diagnosis, while adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities.<br />Results: Veterans with initially high transitioning to low (HR = 1.21, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.31) and initially moderate transitioning to high (HR = 1.42, 95 % CI: 1.33-1.51) alcohol use patterns had a significantly greater risk of cognitive diagnosis compared to those with consistently low alcohol use when accounting for TBI, PTSD, and comorbidities. TBI (HR = 5.40, 95 % CI: 5.06-5.76) and PTSD (HR = 2.42, 95 % CI: 2.25-2.61) were also independently associated with an elevated risk of cognitive diagnosis.<br />Conclusions: Findings suggest that Higher levels of alcohol consumption, even if decreasing over time, may confer an increased risk of cognitive diagnosis for Veterans with TBI and/or PTSD. Long-term alcohol use patterns should be considered in clinical assessments and interventions to identify individuals at greater risk for experiencing cognitive difficulties.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no declarations of interest to report.<br /> (Published by Elsevier B.V.)
- Subjects :
- Humans
Male
Female
Adult
Cohort Studies
Middle Aged
Cognitive Dysfunction epidemiology
Alcoholism epidemiology
Alcoholism psychology
Veterans psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic psychology
Brain Injuries, Traumatic epidemiology
Brain Injuries, Traumatic psychology
Brain Injuries, Traumatic complications
Alcohol Drinking epidemiology
Alcohol Drinking psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-0046
- Volume :
- 263
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Drug and alcohol dependence
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39173220
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112419