A study on the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in chronic alcoholics

 

R Panneer Selvam¹, Raqib Abbas N^2*, Seetha Rami Reddy Mallampati³

 

¹Assistant Professor, ^2,3Post Graduate, Department of General Medicine, Vinayaka Missions Medical College and Hospitals- Karaikal.

Email: raqib91@gmail.com

 

Abstract              Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an important cause of congestive heart failure and accounts for up to 25% of all cases of CHF. The incidence of DCM appears to be increasing and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality Objective: To study the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in chronic alcoholics Methods: A total of 50 patients who where admitted to Vinayaka mission’s medical college and hospital and fulfilled the inclusion/ exclusion criteria were evaluated by history, physical examination, ECG and echocardiography Conclusion: In this study it was observed that 20% of the patients who consumed alcohol regularly for a period of more than 20 years were found to have cardiomyopathy. Results: Majority of the patients were in the age group between 50 to 60 years (around 40%) with predominant conduction disturbances seen almost in all the cases included in the study (irrespective of age group) with 80% of them showing valvular regurgitation and heart failure.

Key Words: cardiomyopathy, chronic alcoholics.