The prevalence and extent of vibration sensitivity impairment in men with chronic ethanol abuse

We have studied vibration sensitivity impairment in 100 male alcoholic veterans and 52 control subjects who had no etiologic factors for peripheral neuropathy. Vibration sensitivity was quantitated at the hallux with the Vibration Sensitivity Tester. Alcoholic subjects had impairment of vibration sensitivity when compared with control subjects (p less than .001). This difference persisted when a covariance analysis was performed which included age (coefficient +/- SE: 1.40 +/- 0.35 units, p less than .001). Asymptomatic subjects also had vibration sensitivity impairment (p less than .01). In subjects whose ages were greater than or equal to 45 years, 47% of the alcoholics had poorer vibration sensitivity than did any of the controls. Among the alcoholic subjects there were significant correlations of the vibration perception threshold with both age (r = 0.39, p less than .001) and drinking duration (r = 0.35, p less than .001). In multiple regression analyses these associations remained significant (p less than .05). These data indicate that vibration sensitivity impairment is highly prevalent in alcoholic subjects and that impairment may even occur in those who are asymptomatic.