Risk Factors of Nicolas et al for Alcoholic Myopathy in a Chronic Alcoholic

 

Patient selection: male < 65 years old with a minimum daily ethanol intake of 100 g over the previous 5 years and without other conditions or medications causing myopathy (100 grams of alcohol per day is about 37 kg per year and represents 8 standard drinks at 12.5 grams per drink)

 

Muscle strength was measured in the deltoid muscle and was considered low when < 18 kg.

 

Low strength in the deltoid muscles was associated with muscle area in the upper arm < 50 cm^2.

 

Risk factors for alcoholic myopathy:

(1) consumption of > 1,600 kg of ethanol over lifetime (heavy intake and/or long period)

(2) protein malnutrition