Article Text
Abstract
Introduction While much research has been performed on associations between intelligence and several different health outcomes, there is as yet no conclusive evidence regarding the association between intelligence and alcohol-related disease and death. Furthermore, most studies have been performed on men. The aim of this study is to further investigate the association between IQ and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality and to explore if there are any differences between men and women in this regard.
Method 43 980 Swedish subjects (men and women) born 1948, 1953, 1967, 1972 and 1977 who completed an IQ test at age 13 were followed until 2005. Information on alcohol-related disease and death (ICD-diagnoses) has been collected from the National Patient register and the National Cause of Death register, respectively. Adjustments are made for parental socioeconomic position, age, income, education and occupation, obtained from national censuses. ORs for alcohol related disease and death will be estimated using Cox regression models.
Results So far, unadjusted results have shown, in general, a graded reduction in rates of alcohol-related death and disease by increasing IQ. This was found both for men and as for women. Results from the Cox regression will be presented, crude and adjusted for both men and women.
Conclusion This study will contribute to the research investigating the association between IQ and alcohol-related disease and death. It is of particular interest to analyse this association also in women.