Respiratory sinus arrhythmia in a group of alcohol addicts

Investigation of 43 alcohol addicts for peripheral neuropathy and beat-to-beat variation, revealed a significantly increased frequency of reduced beat-to-beat variation in alcohol addicts with alcoholic neuropathy. In addition, a significantly increased frequency of peripheral neuropathy was found in the group with lowered beat-to-beat variation. The investigation demonstrates that measurements of beat-to-beat variations provide a good parameter for further assessment of neuropathy in alcoholics and this is, simultaneously, easy to administer clinically.