Perception of undergraduate medical students in the online OG learning during COVID-19 pandemic- A cross sectional study at a tertiary care medical college

Background:  Alcohol is the most frequently misused substance on a global scale. Research has demonstrated that it can elicit detrimental impacts on nearly all bodily organ systems. A number of medical conditions can be ascribed to the direct impact of alcohol, while others may be indirect consequences stemming from nutritional inadequacies or susceptibility to injury. The consumption of alcohol has been linked to a range of cardiovascular disorders. Consequently, this study was conducted to investigate the Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic abnormalities in asymptomatic chronic alcoholic patients.
Materials and Methods: The present study, an analytical cross-sectional investigation, was conducted between April 1st, 2021 and September 30th, 2022. The study population consisted of 150 individuals with chronic alcoholism, aged between 21 and 40 years, who had been consuming more than 80 grammes of alcohol per day for a period exceeding 5 years. The participants’ medical history was evaluated according to the definition of chronic alcoholism, and electrocardiography and echocardiography were employed as diagnostic tools. The study group excluded individuals with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders.
Results: Our study reveals that the incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities among individuals with chronic alcoholism is 37%. The predominant electrocardiogram (ECG) alterations observed are sinus tachycardia (18%) and non-specific ST-T changes (9%). The prevalent alterations observed in 2D ECHO were augmented thickness of the posterior wall (11%), succeeded by heightened thickness of the interventricular septum and diminished ejection fraction (<40%). The incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities is positively correlated with prolonged alcohol consumption and is also elevated in the elderly population.
Conclusions: The present investigation validates that a multitude of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic alterations manifest before the onset of symptomatic cardiac pathologies that are attributed to prolonged alcohol consumption, such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy.Early indicators of the ongoing effects of alcohol may be detected through non-invasive investigations such as Electrocardiography and Echocardiography. These indicators are likely reversible during the early stages but may progress to alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy if left untreated.