Alcohol consumption patterns in Russia according to the ESSE-RF study: is there a COVID-19 trace?

Aim. To analyze alcohol consumption according to the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation-3 (ESSE-RF3) study and compare these data with the previous two ESSE-RF sections.

Material and methods. Data from following cross-sectional sections of the ESSE-RF study were used: 2013-2014, 2017, 2020-2022. At the first stage, alcohol consumption was assessed according to ESSE-RF3 data in 2020-2022, conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (n=28685, 35-74 years). At the second stage, a comparison of all three sections of the ESSE-RF study was carried out (n=42043, 35-64 years). Alcohol consumption was divided into those not drinking alcohol, those drinking alcohol little or moderately (<168 g/week of pure ethanol for men, <84 g/week for women), and those drinking alcohol excessively (≥168 g/week for men and ≥84 g/week for women). Differences in qualitative parameters in groups were assessed using the Pearson χ² test, while in quantitative parameters — the Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests. When comparing alcohol consumption in different ESSE-RF sections, direct standardization of samples was carried out according to the socio-demographic structure of the Russian population. Logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate the probability of alcohol consumption.

Results. In the total ESSE-RF3 sample, the proportion of people not drinking alcohol, those with little/moderate and excessive alcohol consumption is 41,0, 55,6 and 3,4%, respectively. The probability of alcohol consumption and the average amount consumed varies significantly by sex, age, education level and income level. The standardized prevalence of any alcohol use (regardless of quantity) and excessive consumption decreases from 75,7 and 5,9% in 2013-2014 to 70,9 and 5,6% in 2017 and to 54,6 and 3,5% in 2020-2022. However, the average amount of ethanol consumed among alcohol drinkers is increasing.

Conclusion. The changes of alcohol consumption over time in Russia are quite favorable, since both involvement in alcohol consumption and its excessive consumption decreases. However, the average amount of alcohol consumed increases, which may be due to changing cultural patterns of alcohol consumption. The COVID-19 pandemic has not altered the direction of changes in alcohol consumption by Russians.

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