1. Lifetime alcohol consumption data in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study Dr Harindra Jayasekara, Dr Robert MacInnis, A/Professor Laura Baglietto, Professor Robin Room, Professor Dallas English Funded by NHMRC Public Health Postgraduate Scholarship

2. Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study Began in 1990-94 with participants aged 40-69 years 60% female 31% born outside Australia/New Zealand N=40,790 in current analysis

3. Measuring lifetime alcohol consumption Participants recalled their usual beverage-specific Frequency and Quantity of intake For age 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 years Beer + Wine + Spirits = Total Alcohol Average intake = Frequency x Quantity x Alcohol per container Time interval

4. Average alcohol intake within age intervals by age at baseline Lifetime abstainers excluded

5. Lifetime intake variability explained by age interval intake: results of linear regression Intake period/s (independent variable/s) R 2 by age at baseline 40-4950-5960-69 Baseline0.520.540.46 Baseline and 20-29 years 0.90 0.860.82 Baseline and 30-39 years 0.88 0.930.90 Baseline and 40-49 years-----0.850.90 Baseline and 50-59 years----- 0.79 R 2 = variability in lifetime intake explained by intake during baseline/preceding age intervals

6. Discussion Advantages of using lifetime consumption data Closer approximation of lifetime cumulative exposure (Russell et al., 1997) Current intake only explains 10-25% of lifetime variability (Russell et al., 1998) Limitations Biases associated with self-reported recall data Past consumption usually over-estimated (Simpura & Poikolainen, 1983) Conclusions Alcohol intake recall for age 20-69 years sufficiently accurate Baseline and a single preceding age interval explain lifetime variability

7. © Copyright The University of Melbourne 2009

8. Spearman rank-correlation coefficients Age periods15-1920-2930-3940-4950-59 20-290.60 30-390.540.85 40-490.490.770.89 50-590.440.700.800.89 60-690.350.540.620.680.77

9. Apparent annual per capita consumption of pure alcohol in Australia 1961-1991 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, catalogue No 4307.0.55.001