The influence of alcohol dependence on the course of chronic heart failure in patients with HIV infection

Introduction. Alcohol dependence is a condition, the consequences of which are severe in persons with cardiovascular diseases and immunodeficiency.   The purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of alcohol dependence on the course of chronic heart failure (CHF) in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).   Materials and methods. A clinical study including 240 HIV-infected patients, 160 of them were diagnosed with CHF, 72 had alcohol dependence. AUDIIT scale was used for diagnostics of alcohol dependence. All patients underwent echocardiography, NT-proBNP concentration was determined in blood plasma, serum - content of SRB, transferrin, ferritin, iron, potassium, sodium, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, AST, ALT, GGTP activity. Statistical calculations: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney methods, odds ratios and risks.   Results. Congestion, lower heart rate prevailed in the group of patients with alcohol dependence. On the background of alcohol dependence in blood serum there was a decrease in the level of total cholesterol, transferrin, potassium, an increase in total bilirubin and GGTP activity, a decrease in the number of platelets. Increase in NT-proBNP concentration was found in blood plasma.   Discussion. Alcohol is characterized by cardiotoxic effect, and regular ethanol consumption is associated with the development of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and CHF. Echocardiographic findings suggest a predominance of right atrial and left ventricular dilatation in the group of patients with alcohol dependence among all patients with CHF infected with HIV due to the formation of cardiomyopathy.   Conclusion. Alcohol dependence is a condition aggravating the course of CHF in HIV-infected patients, which is manifested by higher values of blood plasma NT-proBNP, with CHF more often acquiring a congestive character. The course of CHF in HIV-infected patients against the background of alcohol dependence is accompanied by liver dysfunction - 3.5 times increase the chance of cholestasis development, 2.5 times increase the chances of death within 2 months after admission to hospital.