To evaluate the association of alcohol drinking behaviors with depression and sex differences among Brazilian adults.
Design
Cross-sectional study.
Setting
Brazilian National Health Survey of 2019.
Subjects
Population-based sample of 88 531 Brazilian adults.
Measures
Alcohol drinking behaviors (heavy episodic drinking; alcohol-related impairment; alcohol-induced blackout), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and socioeconomic information (sex; age; education; income; geographic region; partner/spouse).
Analysis
Logistic regression models for the association between alcohol drinking behaviors and depression in the total population, stratified by sex and with interaction effect between depression and sex. Models were adjusted by socioeconomic variables.
Results
Heavy episodic drinking was reported by 40.5% and associated with depression in the total population (Odds Ratio – OR1.31; 95%CI 1.14-1.51) and among women (OR1.30; 95%CI 1.10-1.54). Alcohol-related impairment was reported by 4.6% and associated with depression in the total population (OR2.47; 95%CI 1.88-3.23), among men (OR3.24; 95%CI 2.24-4.68) and women (OR1.85; 95%CI 1.27-2.70). Alcohol-induced blackout was reported by 9.7% and associated with depression in the total population (OR2.27; 95%CI 1.88-2.76), among men (OR2.39; 95%CI 1.82-3.12) and women (OR2.18; 95%CI 1.67-2.85). Men presented higher chance of alcohol-related impairment associated with depression than women (OR1.77; 95% CI 1.04-3.02).
Conclusion
Sex differences in alcohol drinking behaviors associated with depression were observed. These results emphasize the need for gender-specific approaches to tackle issues on mental health and alcohol consumption.
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