Active Tobacco Smoking Impairs Cardiac Systolic Function

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Public Health

Background:

• Tobacco smoking is a known cardiovascular disease risk factor.
• The direct impact of smoking on myocardial structure and function requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of tobacco smoking on cardiac structure and function.
• To quantify the association between smoking and measures of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic function.

Main Methods:

• A nested matched case-control study design was employed using UK Biobank participants.
• Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was used to assess LV and RV structure and function in 102 smokers matched to non-smokers.
• Linear regression analysis determined the effect of smoking on cardiac imaging measures.

Main Results:

• Tobacco smoking was associated with increased LV and RV end-systolic volumes.
• Smokers exhibited reduced LV and RV ejection fraction and impaired LV peak global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain.
• A dose-dependent relationship was observed, with daily smokers showing more significant functional impairment.

Conclusions:

• Active tobacco smoking is dose-dependently associated with impaired cardiac systolic function in a general Caucasian population.
• These findings highlight the detrimental effects of smoking on myocardial function, even in individuals without diagnosed cardiovascular disease.