Neurological Manifestations of Alcohol Consumption at Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Alcohol consumption has serious economic, social and medical consequences. Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to serious medical consequences especially neurologic disorder. So far there is scanty of literature about neurological manifestations of alcohol consumption in India and overseas.

Aims&Objectives: To study the various neurological manifestations, clinical profile and prognostic factors of patients admitted with history of alcohol consumption. Material&Method: This was a retrospective, observational study, which included 312 alcoholic patients admitted in the medicine department, during one year period (January 2012 to December 2012). Data was analysed by SPSS statistical package trial version 11.

Results: A total 312 (3.28%) were admitted with significant history of alcohol consumption. All patients were males with age >15 yrs. Out of 312 patients 146 (46.8%) had neurological manifestations at the time of presentation. Out of 146 patients 13 (8.92%) had ischemic stroke, 2 (1.36%) had intracranial hemorrhage and 3 (2.08%) had cortical venous sinus thrombosis. and 10 (6.84 %) with seizures. A total 7 (4.81 %) presented with hypoglycemia, 5 (3.42 %) presented with meningitis, and 2 (1.36%) presented with neuropathy. A total 36 (24.65 %) had alcohol withdrawal syndrome and 38 (26.02 %) patients were admitted with alcohol intoxication and 30 (20.54 %) presented with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Total 25 (8.01 %) patients succumbed with alcohol consumption. Out of 25 deaths 12 (48 %) deaths were associated with neurological manifestations and 13 (52 %) with non neurological complications. Total deaths were 25 (8.01%) with mean age of 50.96 ± 8.7 yrs. Mortality was associated with increasing age hypoglycemia and seizures in neurological complications ('p'<0.0231).

Conclusions: Half of patients with alcohol consumption had neurological manifestations and associated morbidity and mortality. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, W-K syndrome and alcohol intoxication were common neurological manifestation. Mortality was more associated with neurological manifestations compared to the non-neurological complication.