Smokeless tobacco: Risk factor for cardiovascular and breathing in young Indian adolescent

Teenagers are the foremost susceptible population to smokeless tobacco usage and limited studies have surveyed the influence of smokeless tobacco on cardiac and respiratory response.

This study aims to measure consequence (cardiovascular and breathing) of smokeless tobacco usage (gutkha and chewing tobacco) among young Indian men.

On random basis, the applicants were divided into Group I (n=50) - healthy control group, Group II (n=50) - smokeless tobacco users. Anthropometric measurements and recording of blood pressure (BP), pulse wave analysis (PWV), heart rate variability (HRV) and pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed.

We observed that altogether anthropometric variables were comparable among all individuals. In blood pressure variable, except DBP, other variables for example SBP, PP and MAP were significantly increased in Group II individuals, once compare to Group I. Pulse wave analysis, (such as, AP, AIx, and SEVR), was comparable in individuals of both groups. As compare to Group I, HR was significantly increased in Group II. In HRV investigation, NN, VLF, LF, LF(nu), LF/HF were increased significantly and TSP, HF, HF(nu) were decreased significantly in Group II with compare to Group I. In PFT analysis, FVC was comparable among individuals of both the group and conversely, significant decrease in FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, FEF_25-75 and PEFR in Group II when compare with Group I.

This study illustrate that smokeless tobacco practice has increasing adverse effects on cardiovascular as well as breathing system and become an important public health problem.