Functional exercise capacity in inpatients with alcohol use disorder versus healthy controls : a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to compare the functional exercise capacity of patients with alcohol use disorders (AUD) with an age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy control group. Thirty patients (22 males, 40.4 ± 10.5 years, illness duration = 9.7 ± 9.3 years) and healthy control subjects (22 males, 40.2 ± 10.7 years) participated. Participants performed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) to assess their functional exercise capacity, were asked about musculoskeletal problems and dyspnea, executed a standing broad jump to assess their muscular strength, and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Patients also filled in the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Our data show that patients with AUD walked a significantly shorter distance on the 6MWT (649.0 ± 72.9 m vs. 724.4 ± 89.0 m, p = 0.001). In patients with AUD, the variance in standing broad jump score explained 43.6% of the variance in the 6MWT score. The current study demonstrates that impaired muscle strength is negatively associated with functional outcomes in patients with AUD. Exercise interventions should be investigated in order to assess whether they can ameliorate muscle strength and daily life functioning of this vulnerable population.