Morphometric Changes in Ventricular Indices in Chronic Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Patients in Mangalore: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Alcohol intake is increasing daily, affecting and damaging the brain in various ways. In the brain, it causes various degenerative changes, such as dilatations of the ventricles and atrophic changes, primarily seen in chronic alcoholic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate ventricular indices in chronic alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients using computed tomography (CT). Methods In this prospective case-control study, patients who had undergone noncontrast CT of the brain between the age of 30 and 60 years were grouped into chronic alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients. The patient's age was further grouped into 30 to 40, 41 to 50, and 51 to 60 years. This current study includes 86 male patients (43 chronic alcoholic patients and 43 nonalcoholic patients). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 23. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result A statistically significant difference was found in all ventricular indices between the chronic alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients, and it also inferred that ventricular index values were higher in chronic alcoholic patients than in nonalcoholic patients. A statistically significant difference was also found in all ventricular indices when compared between patients in each age group. Conclusion In this study, ventricular dilatation was seen in chronic alcoholic patients, leading to brain atrophy. There was also evidence of a positive correlation between age and ventricular indices.