Work capacity in chronic alcoholism
Avkaeva, R.T.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 54(2): 124-128
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 7071757 Document Number: 182812
Spiroergometry was used to examine work fitness in 50 males aged 25-40 yr, suffering from stage 2 chronic alcoholism. In subjects with a disease standing < 5 yr and preserved work fitness (group 1), there was no appreciable decrease in the physical working capacity as compared to normal. The test subjects demonstrated certain signs indicating its disturbances (O2 consumption during exercise, the number of metabolic units, O2 pulse during exercise and time of elimination of O2 debt). In the test subjects with a longer disease history (group 2), there was a more noticeable decrease in the physical working capacity as evaluated from all the spiroergometric indicators. The reduced physical working capacity was likely determined by functional inadequacy of the myocardium and by disturbed adaptation of the cardiovascular system to exercise. After antialcoholic treatment the patients of group 2 manifested an improved physical working capacity as regards the main characteristics but it remained below normal.