Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data
Abstract Previous studies relying on alcohol sales, alcohol-related injuries, and surveys have suggested that alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to leverage over 1 million Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) measurements from Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzers to cond...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53757-y |
| _version_ | 1797274675886161920 |
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| author | Parker D. Houston Eric Vittinghoff Gregory M. Marcus |
| author_facet | Parker D. Houston Eric Vittinghoff Gregory M. Marcus |
| author_sort | Parker D. Houston |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Previous studies relying on alcohol sales, alcohol-related injuries, and surveys have suggested that alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to leverage over 1 million Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) measurements from Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzers to conduct an objective and longitudinal assessment of alcohol use during the pandemic. Serial BrAC measurements revealed a decrease in drinking between January 1, 2020 and March 30, 2020, an increase between March 30, 2020 and May 25, 2020, a statistically insignificant decrease between May 25, 2020 and January 1, 2021, and an increase again between January 1, 2021 and June 4, 2021. No statistically significant relationships between shelter-in-place orders and alcohol consumption were detected. These findings demonstrate the complex relationship between the pandemic and alcohol consumption patterns, providing insights that may be relevant to the use of this commonly consumed substance with implications relevant to long-term effects from the patterns observed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b70eb58bf7164c7db8e9a595f563a6aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:41Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-b70eb58bf7164c7db8e9a595f563a6aa2024-03-05T19:06:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-011411810.1038/s41598-024-53757-yChanges in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer dataParker D. Houston0Eric Vittinghoff1Gregory M. Marcus2School of Medicine, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of CaliforniaDivision of Cardiology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Previous studies relying on alcohol sales, alcohol-related injuries, and surveys have suggested that alcohol consumption increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to leverage over 1 million Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) measurements from Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzers to conduct an objective and longitudinal assessment of alcohol use during the pandemic. Serial BrAC measurements revealed a decrease in drinking between January 1, 2020 and March 30, 2020, an increase between March 30, 2020 and May 25, 2020, a statistically insignificant decrease between May 25, 2020 and January 1, 2021, and an increase again between January 1, 2021 and June 4, 2021. No statistically significant relationships between shelter-in-place orders and alcohol consumption were detected. These findings demonstrate the complex relationship between the pandemic and alcohol consumption patterns, providing insights that may be relevant to the use of this commonly consumed substance with implications relevant to long-term effects from the patterns observed.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53757-y |
| spellingShingle | Parker D. Houston Eric Vittinghoff Gregory M. Marcus Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data Scientific Reports |
| title | Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data |
| title_full | Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data |
| title_fullStr | Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data |
| title_short | Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study using smart-breathalyzer data |
| title_sort | changes in alcohol consumption during the covid 19 pandemic a longitudinal cohort study using smart breathalyzer data |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53757-y |
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