Developing Pathways for older adults who are also drinking at increased-risk levels
Older adults Alcohol Pathway (OAP)
Chief Investigator: Julia Sinclair, Professor of Addiction Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton.
Co-Investigators:
Stephen Lim, Consultant Geriatrician, NIHR ARC Wessex Ageing and Dementia Theme Lead, university Hospital Southampton
Melinda King, Lived Experience Consultant
Becky Band, Associate Professor, University of Swansea
Partners: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton, Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Wessex Health Partners, Inclusion (community treatment provider of addiction services), CGL, ‘With you’ Community Addiction Services Bournemouth and Poole, NIHR School of Primary care.
Start: 1 October 2024
End: 31 March 2026
Summary
Alcohol once swallowed is absorbed into every organ of the body as well as affecting the mind. Although approximately 80% of people in Wessex drink alcohol, many people remain unaware of the harm it causes even at relatively low levels. As people age, they are more likely to develop long term health conditions, which alcohol can adversely affect as well as putting them at increased risk of medication interactions, memory problems, and falls.
We know that older adults may feel more uncomfortable talking about their alcohol use compared with younger people. This can create barriers to accessing help. Beyond this, very little is known about the reasons why older adults drink alcohol and how this may interact with other aspects of their lives.
The aim of this project is to build on our first study which recruited 29 people over 65 years admitted to University Hospital Southampton (UHS) whose alcohol consumption was at increased risk levels (OLA study).
To do this we will:
Access routinely collected data from all patients (over the age of 65 years) admitted to UHS during the time of our OLA study (1.8.23 -1.8.24). This is over 70,000 admissions to hospital, of whom over 17,000 had a measure of alcohol use (AUDIT -C) taken on admission. From this we wish to examine the impact that increased risk levels of alcohol consumption had on how long people stayed in hospital, their nutritional status (from blood test whilst in hospital), the medications they were prescribed, and their health outcomes.
Interview a community sample of patients over the age of 65 years who may have significant levels of distress, long term conditions and who may also use alcohol at increased risk levels, to better understand their diverse needs and optimise outcomes.
Bring together an engaged and active stakeholder group of experts by experience and training in this field; including patients, carers, clinicians, social care workers, providers, commissioners and academics to help review and interpret the results of the first OLA study and this new information and to build a network to apply for further funding to take this work forward.
We anticipated that these three strands of work will occur in parallel over the next 18 months as part of developing a fully funded application for a programme grant to take the work forward. Our collaborators in Wessex and beyond will enable us both to contribute to the very small evidence base in this area but also to set up and test pathways that may be effective and sustainable.