Why the study?
Does alcohol consumption trigger arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death?
Does alcohol consumption trigger arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death?
Alcohol is a recognized trigger for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, though the pathophysiological relationship is complex.
Supports alcohol reduction counseling in arrhythmia patients; leaves open dose thresholds and mechanisms for prospective trials.
The use of alcohol as a social lubricant has been ubiquitous in human societies since ancient times. It has also long been recognized that alcohol produces undesirable cardiovascular effects, especially when imbibed in excess. Numerous investigators have noted a causal relationship between alcohol and arrhythmias, as well as sudden cardiac death. We have undertaken a comprehensive review of the literature on alcohol as a potential trigger for arrhythmias. We have reviewed the major epidemiological studies undertaken on this subject. We have also explored pathophysiological mechanisms that drive the arrythmogenic effects of alcohol. In conclusion, although there is definite proof in the literature to implicate alcohol as a culprit in arrhythmias, the relationship is complex.
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George et al. (2010) studied this question.
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