Clinical Evaluation of Blood Pressure in Alcoholics

Abstract

The blood pressures of 2688 alcoholics were determined at their admission to the St. Luke''s and Children''s Hospital Alcoholic Ward for the treatment of their alcoholism from 1950 to 1953; in 2346 cases blood pressure readings were repeated at discharge. Averages of all of these readings were calculated by 5-year age classes, from 20 to 89 years of age; e.g., in the 20-24 year class, the averages were 133 [plus or minus] 11.8 [plus or minus]8.8 on admission, and 123 [plus or minus] 11.8/76 [plus or minus] 9.7 on discharge; and in the 85-89 year class, the averages were 132 [plus or minus] 19.9/72.2 on admission, and 141 [plus or minus] 20.4/70 [plus or minus] 9.0 on discharge. Standard deviations were determined for all the averages of systolic and diastolic pressures, on admission and at discharge, for all 5-year age classes. Over 99% of all readings fell within 3 standard deviations of the average in each class. The averages of the systolic pressures of the alcoholics were similar to the averages of systolic pressures obtained by other investigators in the general population; the averages of the diastolic pressures of these patients were lower than the averages in the general population, but not in the hypotensive range. Hypertension was evaluated according to various limits of normal, as 150/90, 140/90, 150/100; and also according to limits that varied with each age class, from 140/88 at age 20-24 to 170/100 at age 85-89. Percentages of hypertension in the general population vary from 12 to 50 and more in different age groups. Hypertension was much less frequent among the alcoholic patients even at the time of admission, when they were emotionally upset, and when it occurred in 50% more cases than at discharge. At discharge only one age-class showed 25% hypertension, and another 20%; the majority showed less than 10% hypertension. There were only 1/3 as many hypertensives amongst the alcoholics over 40 as in the general population. Hypotension, evaluated according to varying limits of normal, as 100/60 for all age classes, or 105/62 at age 20-24 and 115/70 at age 85-89, much less frequent in the alcoholic patients than in the general population. Normotensive percentages, accordingly, was greater in these alcoholic patients. Alcoholism seems to have an antihypertensive effect. Alcoholics have both less hypertension and less hypotension than the general population.