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Chronic effect of smoking on the electrocardiogram
S Chatterjee1, S Kumar, S K Dey
1Department of Physiology, University College of Science and Technology, Calcutta, India.
Japanese Heart Journal
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Long-term smoking significantly alters electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns, especially in older individuals. While aging impacts ECGs, smoking exacerbates these changes, affecting wave amplitudes and axes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
- Electrocardiograms (ECG) are crucial for assessing cardiac health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of smoking on electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters in healthy males.
- To compare ECG findings between smokers and non-smokers across different age groups.
- To determine how smoking modifies age-related changes in ECG patterns.
Main Methods:
- Studied ECGs of 232 male non-smokers and 224 male smokers (aged 20-60) without cardiovascular disease.
- Analyzed non-pathological ECGs for wave amplitudes (R, S, T) and intervals (P-R, QRS, Q-Tc).
- Examined P and QRS axes and correlated findings with smoking pack-years and age.
Main Results:
- Smokers showed significantly lower R-wave amplitude in standard limb leads (40-60 years) and lower S-wave amplitude overall in limb leads.
- R, S, and T-wave amplitudes decreased with age more rapidly in smokers and correlated negatively with pack-years.
- QRS and P axes differed significantly between groups; axis shifting with age was faster in non-smokers.
Conclusions:
- Long-term smoking significantly alters electrocardiogram wave patterns and axes in healthy males.
- Smoking modifies and potentially accelerates age-related changes in ECG parameters.
- These findings highlight the detrimental cardiovascular impact of smoking beyond established disease states.