Abstract

Studies aimed at detecting alcohol consumption and the associated development of arrhythmia are limited in the literature. In this study, we aimed to predict arrhythmia development by evaluating the arrhythmogenic effect, as reflected by the Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio, in patients who presented to the emergency department due to alcohol consumption. Our study, which included a total of 71 cases (36 with alcohol consumption and 35 without alcohol consumption), was conducted prospectively and cross-sectionally. In addition to routine electrocardiography (ECG) measurements, the QT, QTc, Tpe interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios were calculated. Ethanol levels and routine biochemical analyses of the patients were recorded. In the alcohol-consuming group, the Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio, which are indicators of arrhythmia, increased, and these values were found to be dependent on dose, early age of initiation, and the number of days alcohol was consumed throughout the year. As a result, the risk of arrhythmia increases with high amounts of acute alcohol consumption, early initiation of alcohol consumption, and an increase in the number of days alcohol is consumed throughout the year.

Key words: Alcohol consumption, Arrhythmia, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, Tp-e/QTc ratio