Abstract 484: Alcohol Abuse Increases the Risk of In-hospital Mortality in Arrhythmia: A Nationwide Analysis of 114,958 Inpatients

Abstract

Objectives: In our study, we aim 1. to evaluate the differences in demographics in arrhythmia inpatients by comorbid alcohol abuse, and 2. to assess the risk of in-hospital mortality due to alcohol abuse. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS, 2010-2014). We included 114,958 patients (age, 15-54y) hospitalized for arrhythmia and further grouped by comorbid alcohol abuse. Logistic regression was done to measure the odds ratio (OR) of association of alcohol abuse with mortality. Results: The prevalence of alcohol abuse in arrhythmia inpatients was 9.75%., and these patients were old-age (45-54y, 68%), male (85.9%) and White (69%). The mortality risk statistically increases with age with adults (45-5y) having two times higher risk (95% CI 1.5-3.1). Males had a lower risk compared to females (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-0.9). Atherosclerosis (OR 4.5, 95% CI 3.4-5.9) and diabetes (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7) significantly increased mortality risk in arrhythmia inpatients. Mortality was seen in a higher proportion of alcohol abusers (1.9%) cohort compared to non-users (1.4%). And, alcohol abuse increased the risk of mortality during hospitalization (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.1) after controlling for demographic confounders and cardiovascular comorbidities. Conclusions: The risk of mortality is higher in older-age adults and females with arrhythmia. Alcohol abuse independently increases the risk of mortality by 72% in arrhythmia inpatients. Social alcohol drinking and its impact on arrhythmias in non-alcoholics needs to be studied. Strategies to reduce alcohol consumption and abstinence should be focussed to improve the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular risk factors.