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Heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic function in men with chronic alcohol dependence
S C Malpas1, E A Whiteside, T J Maling
1Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
British Heart Journal
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Alcohol-dependent men show impaired cardiac autonomic function. Twenty-four hour heart rate variability is a more sensitive measure of cardiac vagal neuropathy than standard autonomic function tests.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Alcohol dependence is associated with nervous system damage.
- Cardiac autonomic function may be compromised in individuals with alcohol dependence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cardiac autonomic function in alcohol-dependent men.
- To compare the efficacy of standard autonomic function tests with 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) in detecting abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Studied 23 alcohol-dependent men and controls.
- Utilized standard autonomic function tests.
- Measured 24-hour heart rate variability using ambulatory electrocardiogram recordings.
Main Results:
- Alcohol-dependent men exhibited significantly lower 24-hour HRV compared to controls.
- Standard autonomic function tests identified vagal neuropathy in only seven participants.
- 24-hour HRV detected autonomic differences even in alcohol-dependent men with normal standard test results.
Conclusions:
- Twenty-four hour HRV may be a more sensitive indicator of cardiac vagal neuropathy in alcohol dependence than standard tests.
- Subtle autonomic dysfunction may be detectable by HRV even when standard tests appear normal.
- Further research should exclude conditions like cardiomyopathy when assessing HRV for vagal function.