Raheja H, Namana V, Chopra K, Sinha A, Gupta SS, Kamholz S, Moskovits N, Shani J, Hollander G. Electrocardiogram Changes with Acute Alcohol Intoxication: A Systematic Review.
Open Cardiovasc Med J 2018. [PMID:
29541259 PMCID:
PMC5838641 DOI:
10.2174/1874192401812010001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Acute alcohol intoxication has been associated with cardiac arrhythmias but the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication are not well defined in the literature.
Objective:
Highlight the best evidence regarding the ECG changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy patients and the pathophysiology of the changes.
Methods:
A literature search was carried out; 4 studies relating to ECG changes with acute alcohol intoxication were included in this review.
Results:
Of the total 141 patients included in the review, 90 (63.8%) patients had P-wave prolongation, 80 (56%) patients had QTc prolongation, 19 (13.5%) patients developed T-wave abnormalities, 10 (7%) patients had QRS complex prolongation, 3 (2.12%) patients developed ST-segment depressions.
Conclusion:
The most common ECG changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication are (in decreasing order of frequency) P-wave and QTc prolongation, followed by T-wave abnormalities and QRS complex prolongation. Mostly, these changes are completely reversible.
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