Research Article
Observational Research on Alcohol Use and Chronic Disease Outcome: New Approaches to Counter Biases
Table 3
Association between alcohol use and health status using the traditional approach, all controlled confounders listed (RR: relative risk).
| | RR | 95% confidence interval |
| Alcohol use | | | | Lifetime abstainer | 1.00 | | | Former infrequent | 1.14 | 1.08 | 1.21 | Former regular | 1.21 | 1.14 | 1.28 | Current infrequent | 0.99 | 0.93 | 1.05 | Current light | 0.77 | 0.72 | 0.82 | Current moderate | 0.66 | 0.61 | 0.72 | Current heavier | 0.83 | 0.75 | 0.91 | Drinking status not reported | 1.04 | 0.92 | 1.18 | Gender | | | | Male | 1.00 | | | Female | 0.92 | 0.89 | 0.96 | Age group | | | | 18–24 | 1.00 | | | 25–34 | 2.10 | 1.82 | 2.43 | 35–44 | 3.45 | 3.01 | 3.96 | 45–54 | 4.59 | 4.02 | 5.24 | 55–64 | 5.08 | 4.44 | 5.81 | 65–74 | 3.24 | 2.73 | 3.84 | 75+ | 3.38 | 2.85 | 4.02 | Race | | | | White | 1.00 | | | Black | 1.13 | 1.08 | 1.19 | Asian | 0.91 | 0.82 | 1.01 | All other race groups | 1.26 | 1.10 | 1.44 | Marital status | | | | Married currently living with spouse | 1.00 | | | Married not currently living with spouse | 0.92 | 0.79 | 1.08 | Widowed | 1.05 | 0.97 | 1.12 | Divorced | 1.12 | 1.05 | 1.19 | Separated | 1.19 | 1.09 | 1.29 | Never married | 1.00 | 0.94 | 1.07 | Living with partner | 1.10 | 1.00 | 1.21 | Education level | | | | 12th grade or lower | 1.00 | | | High-school graduates | 0.79 | 0.76 | 0.82 | Bachelor’s degree | 0.54 | 0.49 | 0.59 | Master degree or above | 0.48 | 0.43 | 0.54 | Employment status | | | | Working for pay at a job or business | 1.00 | | | With a job or business but not at work | 1.51 | 1.27 | 1.79 | Looking for work | 1.41 | 1.27 | 1.56 | Working, but not for pay, at a family-owned job or business | 1.33 | 1.00 | 1.78 | Not working at a job or business and not looking for work | 2.95 | 2.79 | 3.12 | Total combined family income | | | | $0–$34,999 | 1.00 | | | $35,000–$74,999 | 0.73 | 0.69 | 0.77 | $75,000–$99,999 | 0.54 | 0.48 | 0.61 | $100,000 and over | 0.43 | 0.38 | 0.48 | Private insurance cover | | | | Yes | 1.00 | | | No | 1.40 | 1.34 | 1.47 | Home tenure status | | | | Owned or being bought | 1.00 | | | Rented | 1.14 | 1.09 | 1.19 | Other arrangement | 1.16 | 1.06 | 1.27 | Year of survey | | | | 2008 | 1.00 | | | 2009 | 0.97 | 0.93 | 1.02 | 2010 | 0.96 | 0.92 | 1.00 | Region of residence | | | | Northeast | 1.00 | | | Midwest | 1.02 | 0.96 | 1.08 | South | 1.13 | 1.07 | 1.20 | West | 1.02 | 0.95 | 1.08 | Number of family members under 18 years of age | | | | 0 | 1.00 | | | 1 | 0.98 | 0.91 | 1.04 | 2 | 0.92 | 0.85 | 1.00 | 3+ | 0.81 | 0.73 | 0.90 | Number of family members aged 65 and older | | | | 0 | 1.00 | | | 1 | 0.91 | 0.83 | 1.01 | 2+ | 1.10 | 0.97 | 1.26 |
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