Abstract
Context:Alcohol dependence can lead to autonomic neuropathy resulting in increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. This has previously been evaluated using heart-rate variability.Aims:We compared sleep heart-rate variability of alcohol-dependent patients with that of healthy controls in this study.Settings and Design:This study was conducted at NIMHANS, Bangalore. A case control study design was adopted.Materials and Methods:Sleep heart-rate variability of 20 male alcohol-dependent inpatients was recorded on the 5th day after detoxification. Sleep heart-rate variability was also recorded in 18 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.Statistical Analysis:The groups were compared using t-test for continuous variables and Chi-squared test for discrete variables.Results:Both time and frequency domain measures were significantly lower in the patients as compared to the controls, indicating decreased HRV in alcohol-dependent individuals.Conclusions:Decreased HRV in alcohol dependence indicates potential autonomic neuropathy.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
