Title Heart rate variability in chronic alcoholics: a follow-up study.
Author Weise, F; Muller, D; Krell, D; Kielstein, V; Koch, R D
Journal Drug Alcohol Depend Publication Year/Month 1986-Jul
PMID 3757771 PMCID -N/A-

Heart rate variability (HRV) was studied in 11 chronic alcoholic subjects, 1-30 days after the beginning of abstinence and again 5, 12 and 24 weeks later. Two patients could be re-examined after 19 and 22 months, respectively. In the follow-up study, the total patient group showed a statistically significant increase in HRV with prolonged abstinence of at least 6 months. No recovery of efferent vagal function was found in 4 patients. It is suggested that the vagal neuropathy may improve in chronic alcoholics, but perhaps only in patients with a short to moderately long duration of drinking history or a functional rather than an organic vagal damage.

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