Older people who regularly drink alcohol ‘often report better quality of life’

Latest research suggests a routine tipple might not be all bad, writes Liam James

Vital fluid? Researchers think alcohol’s mood boosting effects could be behind statistics (Getty/iStock)

Older patients who consume alcohol regularly are more likely to report having a better quality of life before and after surgery, research has found.

A study from the University of Bonn asked patients over 60 who had a planned operation to report their drinking habits and fill out a questionnaire on their wellbeing in the period surrounding the procedure.

Respondents who routinely drank a “potentially unhealthy amount” of alcohol generally said their quality of life was better compared with those who drank low amounts or no alcohol at all.

Frequent drinkers reported significantly better mobility, self-care and fewer problems undertaking daily activities after surgery. Before surgery, those who drank more reported the same benefits along with better overall health and less pain or discomfort.

Women who drank more reported fewer problems in performing usual activities and rated their overall health status as significantly better than women who abstained from alcohol or drink at very low levels.

The findings are to be presented to the Euroanaesthesia Congress in Milan this weekend – though they have already been questioned by other academics.

Study authors Vera Guttenthaler and Dr Maria Wittmann acknowledged that the findings could at best suggest a tendency towards better quality of life for drinkers but said the topic was “exciting” and warranted further investigation.

“Our study finds that older patients with potentially unhealthy alcohol intake report that some aspects of their quality of life are better compared to those who abstain from alcohol or drink at very low levels,” said Ms Guttenthaler. “One explanation may be that higher alcohol consumption may lead to elevated mood, enhanced sociability and reduced stress.”

The researchers surveyed 628 patients – 231 women and 397 men – aged 60 and over who had a planned operation at University Hospital Bonn in Germany between 2018 and 2019. The patients were asked about mobility, self-care tasks, usual activities, pain or discomfort levels and anxiety or depression during their pre-operative visit and again 180 days after surgery.

Other factors that might influence quality of life including socioeconomic status, comorbidities and physical activity were not assessed.

Reams of evidence have been published in recent years on the damaging effects of alcohol consumption but lately some researchers have pointed to the positives.

A paper published last year in the International Journal of Epidemiology contested the findings of a 2018 Lancet study that concluded drinking even a small amount of alcohol is unsafe.

The earlier study failed to recognise that light drinking reduces the risk of strokes, though the later study made clear that this benefit was reversed by heavy drinking.

The new study from theUniversity of Bonn is unique in suggesting there are benefits to a drinking habit otherwise considered harmful.

The NHS advises men and women to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week – six pints of beer or 10 small glasses of wine.