Sex differences in morbidity among respondents classified as alcohol abusers and/or dependent: results of a national survey.

Abstract

To date, none of the studies on gender differences in physical morbidity have focused on persons classified as DSM-III-R alcohol abusers and/or dependent in the general population. This Data Note presents data from a nationally representative survey on drinking practices and related problems for the purpose of examining gender differences in physical morbidity among respondents receiving these diagnoses. Results indicated that for certain major sociodemographic subgroups of the population, gender differences in morbidity were significant. The female-to-male odds ratios of these subgroups generally varied within the range of 1.5 and 2.0, reflecting about two times greater odds of experiencing morbid conditions for females when compared to males.