Gender differences and gender convergence in alcohol use over the past three decades (1984–2008), The HUNT Study, Norway

Table 2 Prevalence rates, gender differences^a (OR, 95 % CI) and change in gender differences^b over time in abstaining, recent drinking, lifetime problematic drinking and intoxication (recent drinkers) as reported in the HUNT1-2-3 surveys (1984–2008)

	Total survey samples			Recent drinkers
	Abstaining^c	Recent drinking^d	Problematic drinking^e	Intoxication^f
H1 1984-1986	N = 61528	N = 61528	No data	N = 25123
All	12	42		40
Women	17	30		24
Men	7	55		49
Absolute differences %	10	25		25
Multivariate adjusted gender differences OR (95%CI)	0.38 (0.36-0.40)	3.03 (2.68-2.86)		3.93 (3.69-4.19)
H2 1995-97	N = 63349	N = 63349	N = 46493	No data
All	13	56	7
Women	17	47	3
Men	8	66	13
Absolute differences%	9	19	10
Multivariate adjusted gender differences OR (95%CI)	0.43 (0.41-0.45)	2.42 (2.34-2.51)	5.31 (4.89-5.78)
Gender differences change^b:	P < 0.001	P < 0.001
H3 2006-08	N = 48969	N = 48802	N = 37174	N = 36559
All	9	74	9	20
Women	11	67	4	13
Men	6	81	14	26
Absolute differences%	5	14	10	13
Multivariate adjusted gender differences OR (95%CI)	0.49 (0.46-0.53)	2.25 (2.15-2.35)	4.22 (3.89-4.57)	2.88 (2.72-3.05)
Gender difference change^b:	P < 0.001	P < 0.001	P < .0.001	P < 0.001

^aGender differences (survey- specific) reported as odds ratios, with 95% confidence intervals (ORs, 95 % CIs, adjusted for age, level of education, marital status with women as references); ^bGender differences change: p-value for interaction term between gender and survey (H1 and H2 = reference). ^cAbstaining: H1 and H2 = those who reported total abstinence from alcohol; H3 = those who never in lifetime or during last year had consumed alcohol ^dRecent drinking: H1 = At least one drinking occasion - past 14 days; In H2 and H3 those who reported at least one drinking occasion - past 4 weeks and also any usual amount of alcohol consumption during 2 weeks were classified as recent drinkers. ^eLifetime problematic drinking in H2 and H3: claims at least 2 out 4 confirming answers using the CAGE index. ^fIntoxication among recent drinkers: H1 = past 14 days; H2 not measured; H3 = past 4 weeks

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