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[The relation of moderate alcohol drinking and congestive heart insufficiency]
G Carpinteri1, G Caruso, O Mazzone
1Clinica Medica, Università, Catania.
Insights
Moderate alcohol use may worsen congestive heart failure. Studies show higher left ventricular mass (LVM/m2) in moderate drinkers, indicating more severe disease progression. This finding holds true regardless of sex or smoking habits.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex condition often exacerbated by lifestyle factors.
- The impact of moderate alcohol consumption on CHF clinical features requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effects of moderate alcohol use on the clinical presentation of congestive heart failure.
- To determine if alcohol consumption influences left ventricular mass in CHF patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 116 patients with congestive heart failure.
- Patients were categorized into moderate drinkers (n=57) and non-drinkers/ex-drinkers (n=59).
- Left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVM/m2) was compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Moderate drinkers exhibited significantly higher LVM/m2 compared to non-drinkers (p < 0.001).
- This difference in LVM/m2 was observed in both male (p < 0.05) and female (p < 0.001) subgroups.
- Higher LVM/m2 in drinkers was independent of sex and cigarette smoking status.
Conclusions:
- Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased left ventricular enlargement in patients with congestive heart failure.
- Alcohol may act as an additional pathogenetic factor contributing to more severe CHF clinical and laboratory findings.
Abstract:
116 patients (53 women and 63 men) with congestive heart failure, secondary to chronic ischemic heart disease and/or hypertensive heart disease, were studied with the aim of assessing effects of moderate alcohol use on the clinical features of the disease. Two subgroups were considered: a) 57 moderate drinkers (11 women and 46 men); b) 59 non-drinkers or ex-drinkers (42 women, 17 men). Left ventricular mass/m2 (LVM/m2) is higher among moderate drinkers in comparison with non-drinkers (p < 0.001); this difference is present both in men (p < 0.05) and in women (p < 0.001). These results suggest that higher LVM/m2 of drinkers does not depend on sex and cigarette smoking; i.e., in males, a subgroup with the same prevalence of cigarette smokers among drinkers and non drinkers, congestive heart failure of drinkers is associated with a greater left ventricular enlargement. Our results suggest that moderate alcohol use can represent an additional pathogenetic factor for more severe clinical and laboratory features of congestive heart failure.