Alcoholic cardiomyopathy and cardiovascular events - an insight from the Liptov region.

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).