Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Given the shared risk profiles and interdependence of smoking and drinking behaviors, this study aimed to examine factors associated with smoking and alcohol consumption among older adult Korean men. METHODS: This was a secondary cross-sectional analysis of data pooled from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2019, encompassing 7259 men aged ≥65 years. The participants were divided into the non-smoking/non-drinking, smoking/non-drinking, non-smoking/drinking, and smoking/drinking groups, and the sociodemographic and various health-related data collected via questionnaires and blood tests were used for multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: When examining factors associated with each group using the non-smoking/non-drinking group as the reference group, several associated factors were identified. For example, not participating in regular exercise (AOR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.06-1.61; p=0.011), perceived health status as poor/very poor (AOR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.21-2.00; p<0.001), and skipping breakfast (AOR=1.90; 95% CI: 1.22-2.98; p=0.005) were some of the factors positively associated with the smoking/non-drinking group. Conversely BMI ≥25 (AOR=1.44; 95% CI: 1.12-1.83; p=0.004), elevated triglyceride levels (AOR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.03-1.05; p<0.001), and more daily fat intake (AOR=1.20; 95% CI: 1.03-1.40; p=0.019) were positively associated with the non-smoking/drinking group. Higher triglyceride levels (AOR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05; p<0.001), depressive mood (AOR=2.10; 95% CI: 1.20-3.67; p=0.009), and more daily fat intake (AOR=1. 27; 95% CI: 1.07-1.51; p=0.007) were positively associated with the smoking/drinking group. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic changes, such as higher triglyceride levels, were more common in the drinking groups, whereas negative emotions were more prevalent among smokers. These findings may highlight the need for targeted interventions to promote healthier lifestyles among older adults; however, further research is necessary to revalidate our study findings.