[Vascular age assessment in smokers]

Smoking is the most harmful social habit and is the origin of many diseases including direct damaging of arterial walls. The aim of this study was to assess the possible differences in vascular age of smokers versus never smokers, measured in common carotid artery (CCA).

The study included healthy volunteers with age and sex risk factors for cerebrovascular disease development. Measurements in CCA were performed in M mode on an Aloka 5500 Prosound ultrasound platform bilaterally. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid interadventitial diameter (CID) and carotid interadventitial diameter change (CIDc) were recorded, and carotid interadventitial strain (CIS) was calculated. Median age subanalysis was performed for IMT, CIDc and CIS. Mann-Whitney statistics was used to determine group differences.

There were 121 subjects, 80 women and 41 men, mean age 47.43 +/- 14.15 years. There were 23 (19%) current smokers, 17 (14%) occasional smokers, 11 (9%) past smokers, and 70 (58%) non-smokers. A statistical increase in IMT was found in the group of previous smokers (the eldest) in the left CCA (P < 0.05). CIDc and CIS were statistically higher in the right CCA in the group of current smokers (P < 0.05 both). Older subjects had an increase in IMT values in both CCA and decrease in CIDc and CIS in the right CCA.

The results indicated cigarette smoking to primarily cause an increase in CIDc, whereas CIS remained preserved. Smoking influences vascular age. Additional studies are necessary to address the issue in a greater number of smokers.