Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men

• Published in: Cardiology journal 2011, Vol.18 (6), p.682-686
• Main Authors: Sengul, Cihan, Cevik, Cihan, Ozveren, Olcay, Sunbul, Aysegul, Oduncu, Vecih, Akgun, Taylan, Can, Mehmet Mustafa, Semiz, Ender, Dindar, Ismet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol use; Atrial Fibrillation - diagnostic imaging; Atrial Fibrillation - etiology; Atrial Fibrillation - physiopathology; Beer - adverse effects; Blood Pressure; Cardiac arrhythmia; Chi-Square Distribution; Echocardiography, Doppler; Electrocardiography; Heart Atria - diagnostic imaging; Heart Atria - physiopathology; Heart Conduction System - diagnostic imaging; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Time Factors; Turkey
• ISSN: 1897-5593; 1897-5593; 1898-018X
• DOI: 10.5603/CJ.2011.0033

Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake. Thirty healthy male volunteers were included in this study. Baseline ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and TDI echocardiographic findings were compared to readings taken one hour after drinking six 12-oz cans of beer (76.8 g of ethanol). Although the blood pressure and heart rate remained similar before and one hour after alcohol intake, Pmax and Pd values were significantly prolonged (114.2 ± 10.4 vs 100.8 ± 10.6, p = 0.002; 50.6 ± 9.6 vs 34.5 ± 8.8, p < 0.0001). Interatrial EMD was significantly increased after drinking alcohol compared to the baseline (19.8 ± 9.2 vs 14.0 ± 5.5 ms, p < 0.0002). Acute moderate alcohol intake was associated with an increased interatrial EMD obtained by TDI echocardiography. This finding may help explain how these patients express increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation.