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Alcohol abstinence vs. persistent alcohol consumption in alcoholic cardiomyopathy: impact on long-term prognosis. Eur Heart J 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac544.946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (ACM) remains a prevalent form of toxic-induced heart damage. Whether ACM prognosis depends on the persistence of alcohol consumption is a matter of debate.
Purpose
We sought to determine predictors of adverse events during long-term follow-up and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes between abstainers and non-abstainers.
Methods
Consecutive patients admitted to a HF clinic from 2001 to 2020 with ACM were included. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death or HF hospitalization. HF hospitalization was analyzed as a secondary outcome. Changes in LVEF at 1- and 3-years follow-up according to discontinuation of alcohol consumption was also analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed using the competing risk strategy for the secondary endpoint.
Results
A total of 122 patients were included with a mean age of 57.8±10.0 years and 95.1% (n=116) of males. The mean LVEF was 27.5% ± 10.6 and 11.5% (n=14) exhibited NYHA functional class 3. A total of 92 (75.4%) patients remained abstinent during follow-up; the rest continued with at least moderate alcohol intake. After a median follow-up of 6.8 years (interquartile range: 3.2 to 11.3 years), 59 (48.4%) presented the primary endpoint (45 [36.9%] died and 34 [27.9%] experienced HF readmission). Independent predictors of the primary outcome were age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.06; p=0.042), hemoglobin (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.56–0.82; p<0.001) and alcohol abstinence (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.20–0.61; p<0.001). Predictors of HF readmission were hemoglobin (HR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.50–0.83; p=0.001) and alcohol abstinence (HR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.17–0.92; p=0.032). Improvement in LVEF was higher in abstainers (27.5±10.6% from baseline to 46.7±13.1% and 49.1±14.3% at 1- and 3-years respectively) than in non-abstainers (27.8±10.3% to 40.3±14.0% and 39.2±16.3% at 1- and 3-years respectively), being these changes in LVEF significantly different between both groups (p=0.004).
Conclusions
Patients with ACM and who remain abstainers during follow-up exhibit better outcomes and higher LVEF improvement in comparison to non-abstainers. These findings should help to inform lifestyle modification for patients with ACM.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None.
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