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The effect of excessive alcohol consumption on the heart function and working capacity of manual workers
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia. Boris.Starcevic@public.srce.hr
Insights
Chronic heavy alcohol consumption did not impair cardiovascular function or working ability in male manual workers. However, further research is needed to determine if long-term drinking leads to manifest heart disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Occupational Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prolonged excessive alcohol intake is a significant health concern.
- Understanding its impact on cardiovascular function and work capacity is crucial for public health.
- Manual laborers represent a population potentially at risk due to physical demands and alcohol consumption patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of chronic excessive alcohol consumption on heart function.
- To assess the impact of heavy drinking on the working ability of male manual laborers.
- To identify potential cardiovascular changes associated with long-term alcohol abuse.
Main Methods:
- Study population: 54 male manual workers (32 heavy alcohol consumers, 22 non-alcoholics).
- Data collection: Laboratory tests (MCV, AST, ALT, GGT), maximal exercise testing, and echocardiography.
- Comparison: Cardiovascular and functional capacity assessment between alcohol consumers and a control group.
Main Results:
- No significant disruption in cardiovascular functional ability was observed in chronic alcoholics.
- Alcoholics achieved an average of 10.8 METS during maximal exercise, similar to non-alcoholics.
- Elevated resting heart rate, higher resting blood pressure, and echocardiographic changes were noted in alcohol consumers.
Conclusions:
- Despite some physiological changes, chronic alcoholics in this study maintained functional cardiovascular capacity for strenuous manual work.
- The long-term implications of observed resting cardiovascular changes require further investigation.
- Continued heavy drinking may potentially lead to manifest heart disease in the future.
Unlabelled:
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prolonged daily excessive alcohol consumption on the heart function with particular reference to the impact on the working ability of alcoholics. The study was carried out on 54 male manual workers, 32 of whom had a median age of 40.5 years with a history of heavy alcohol consumption of more than 100 g a day over a period of 10 years or more. The study also covered 22 non-alcoholics with a median age of 38.5 years from the same work environment. The study covered laboratory tests (MCV, AST, ALT, GGT), a maximal exercise test, as well as echocardiography.
Conclusion:
In spite of the observed differences, the functional ability in the chronic alcoholics in this study has not yet been disrupted as far as the cardiovascular system is concerned. During the maximal exercise test alcoholics achieved on the average 10.8 METS the same as the non-alcoholics, which shows that they are still capable of performing strenuous manual work. The question which remains to be answered is whether, in view of the already observed accelerated heart rate, higher blood pressure at rest and the echocardiographic changes, the patients would develop a manifest heart disease if they were to continue to drink heavily for a period more than 10 years.