Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.114, No.6, p.337-341, 2013

Aim: This study was conducted to study the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular events and echocardiographical parameters in 100 consumers with the average daily dose <120 g and ≥120 g of alcohol per day during a 4-year follow-up.

Methods: 100 patients/heavy alcohol consumers (on average ≥ 80 g daily), with no cardiovascular disease, divided into 2 groups, underwent a baseline echocardiographic and clinical evaluation and were followed-up for cardiovascular events, biochemical analysis and rhythm disorder for 4 years.

Results: Data regarding the dose and duration of alcohol consumption showed a low correlation and nonlinear character between the duration of alcohol consumption and monitored parameters.

There were no differences between the groups in the echo-parameters ejection fraction EF (p=0.43), in the diameter of left atrium LA (p=0.51).

Left chamber – LVEDD – was slightly bigger in the group with a heavier drinking pattern (p=0.09).

There were no differences in biochemical parameters between the groups.

When comparing these two groups of consumers the percentage of diabetes mellitus (p=0.283), episodes of heart failure (p=0.308), atrial fibrillation (p=0.652), cerebral vascular accident (p=0.722) and delirium (p=0.559) were not significantly different; only 2 subjects suffered from myocardial infarction during the follow-up.

Conclusion: We conclude, that no significant differences (p<0.05) between the two groups of heavy alcohol consumers were observed in echo parameters, biochemical values and cardiovascular events (Tab. 4, Ref. 28).