Binge drinking associated with increased heart rate and atrial tachycardias: EHJ

The data showed that when alcohol consumption increased, there was an excess of atrial tachycardias and an increase in heart rate. An autonomic modulation with sympathetic activation after alcohol consumption and the ensuing "recovery period" was revealed by HRV measurement, with parasympathetic predominance following. While PVCs were more common during the "drinking period," PACs were substantially more common during the "control periods." During the 'recovery phase', 10 individuals had significant arrhythmic events, mostly atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardias.

Premature ventricular complexes were more common in individuals without a known history of cardiac arrhythmias during the hours of alcohol use. About 1 day later, premature atrial complexes were much more common. Also, approximately 200 subjects had significant arrhythmic events during the hours after their binge drinking, including atrial fibrillation, non-sustained ventricular tachycardias, and varying degrees of atrioventricular block.

Overall, this study highlighted the holiday heart syndrome as a health concern by showing how excessive drinking affects heart rate changes and increases atrial tachycardias during the "drinking period" and the emergence of clinically significant arrhythmias following the "recovery period."

Reference:

Brunner, S., Krewitz, C., Winter, R., von Falkenhausen, A. S., Kern, A., Brunner, D., & Sinner, M. F. (2024). Acute Alcohol Consumption and Arrhythmias in Young Adults: The MunichBREW II Study. In European Heart Journal. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae695