| Title | Alcohol-dependence syndrome: Postural challenge on heart rate variability. | ||
| Author | Sucharita, S; Pradeep, Johnson; Vincent, Anoop; Vaz, M; Srinivasan, K | ||
| Journal | Indian J Psychiatry | Publication Year/Month | 2012-Jul |
| PMID | 23226850 | PMCID | PMC3512363 |
| Affiliation | 1.Human Physiological Laboratory, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India ; Department of Physiology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. | ||
BACKGROUND: Cardiac autonomic involvement in Alcohol-Dependence Syndrome (ADS) patients has been demonstrated using conventional autonomic tests. Resting heart rate variability (HRV) without normalization has also been reported. AIMS: To evaluate cardiac autonomic changes with postural challenge using HRV in ADS and controls while controlling for confounding factors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study involving 27 male subjects with ADS and age-matched healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical assessments included Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire. Spectral measures of HRV while lying and with active standing were assessed. RESULTS: There was an attenuated response in delta high-frequency (P=0.06) and delta low-frequency (P=0.04) power to standing in ADS subjects compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with ADS appear to have attenuated cardiac vagal and sympathetic responses to standing. HRV with postural challenge may help earlier recognition of autonomic dysfunction in ADS.