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Echocardiographic consequences of smoking status in middle-aged subjects
Morten Kraen1, Sophia Frantz1, Ulf Nihlén2
1Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Insights
Current smokers exhibit higher cardiac index (CI) values compared to never smokers, indicating altered hemodynamics. This study examined cardiovascular performance in healthy individuals across different smoking statuses.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Smoking significantly impacts cardiovascular health.
- Cardiac index (CI) is a key indicator of cardiac performance.
- Research is needed on smoking's effects in healthy populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiac index (CI) and echocardiographic variables.
- To investigate differences between never, ex-, and current smokers.
- To assess cardiovascular hemodynamics in a healthy cohort.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was performed on 355 participants.
- Participants were categorized into never, ex-, and current smokers.
- Cardiac index (CI) was calculated and compared across groups.
Main Results:
- Current smokers showed a significantly higher CI than never smokers (P<.01).
- Ex-smokers had a numerically higher CI than never smokers, though not statistically significant (P>.05).
- Smoking status did not significantly affect other echocardiographic measures.
Conclusions:
- Current smokers without heart disease or COPD display altered hemodynamics.
- Findings suggest subtle cardiovascular changes associated with smoking.
- Further research into smoking's cardiac effects is warranted.
Background:
Smoking is known to have many short- and long-term cardiovascular effects. Cardiac index (CI), which is cardiac output indexed to body surface area, is considered to be a valid measure of cardiac performance. We investigated whether there were any differences in CI or other echocardiographic variables between never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers in a cardiopulmonary healthy population.
Methods:
Subjects (n=355) from a previous population-based respiratory questionnaire survey (never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers without significant chronic obstructive lung disease) were examined with echocardiography, and CI (L/min/m2 ) was calculated.
Results:
Current smokers had a higher CI than never smokers 2.61±0.52 L/min/m2 vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m2 (P<.01). Ex-smokers had a nonsignificant, numerically higher value for CI than never smokers 2.54±0.54 L/min/m2 vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m2 (P>.05). Smoking status had no significant effect on other echocardiographic variables.
Conclusion:
We conclude that currents smokers without known cardiac disease or significant chronic obstructive lung disease show signs of slightly altered hemodynamics.
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