Long-term high-risk drinking does not change effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope in Chinese male patients

BACKGROUND: Available literature indicates that long-term drinkers demand a higher dose of propofol for induction of anesthesia than non-drinkers. However, there is no study having assessed the influence of long-term high-risk drinking (LTHRD) on the effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope with sedation. This study was designed to compare the effective doses of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope between LTHRD and non-drinking (ND) Chinese male patients. METHODS: Thirty-one LTHRD patients and 29 ND male patients undergoing elective gastroscopy with propofol sedation were enrolled. The modified Dixon’s up-and-down method was applied to determine the calculated median effective dose (ED(50)) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope. Furthermore, the isotonic regression analysis was used to establish the dose–response curve of propofol and assess the effective doses of propofol where 50% (ED(50)) and 95% (ED(95)) of gastroscope insertions were successful. RESULTS: The calculated ED(50) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was 1.55 ± 0.10 mg/kg and 1.44 ± 0.11 mg/kg in the LTHRD and ND patients. The isotonic regression analysis further showed that ED(50) and ED(95) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was 1.50 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.40–1.63) and 1.80 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.74–1.90) in the LTHRD patients, respectively; 1.40 mg/kg (95% CI, 1.27–1.57) and 1.60 mg/kg (95%CI, 1.56–1.65) in the ND patients. The ED(50) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope was not significantly different between LTHRD and ND patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the difference in the estimated ED(50) of propofol for successful insertion of gastroscope between LTHRD and ND Chinese male patients was not statistically significant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on November 28, 2020 (ChiCTR2000040382) in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-022-01725-2.