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Published on: February 12, 2015
Passive Smoking Exposure Modifies Cardiovascular Structure and Function: Beijing Child Growth and Health Cohort
Huidi Xiao1, Menglong Li1, Aijing Li2,3
1Department of Child, Adolescent Health and Maternal Care, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is common in children and impacts cardiovascular development. SHS exposure in children is linked to detrimental changes in heart structure and function, necessitating stricter environmental tobacco smoke controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Passive smoking, or secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, is a global health concern for children, exposing them to respiratory and systemic toxins.
- Previous research indicates SHS exposure may negatively impact children's health, but specific cardiovascular effects require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and cardiovascular health in a cohort of children in China.
- To determine if nicotine metabolites in urine correlate with specific cardiovascular structural and functional changes in exposed children.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 568 children in China to assess SHS exposure through urinary nicotine metabolite analysis.
- Measurements included interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular mass index, ascending aorta diameter, and left ventricular dimensions.
- Statistical analyses explored correlations between urinary norcotinine levels and cardiovascular parameters.
Main Results:
- 78.9% of children showed evidence of SHS exposure via urinary metabolites.
- SHS-exposed children exhibited greater interventricular septum thickness and left ventricular mass index compared to non-exposed children.
- Urinary norcotinine levels were associated with altered ascending aorta diameter and left ventricular dimensions, affecting both structure and function.
Conclusions:
- SHS exposure is prevalent among children in Beijing and significantly impacts cardiovascular development.
- Specific cardiovascular structural and functional changes are linked to SHS exposure, highlighting the need for protective measures.
- Eliminating SHS in children's environments is crucial to prevent adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Abstract:
Passive smoking exposure in children is prevalent worldwide and exposes children to respiratory and systemic toxins. In this study, we enrolled 568 children to study how secondhand smoke (SHS) might affect children's cardiovascular health in China. The measurement of nicotine and its metabolites in urine showed that 78.9% of children were exposed to SHS. Children exposed to SHS had greater interventricular septum thickness (p = 0.005) and left ventricular mass index (p = 0.008) than nonexposed children. Urinary norcotinine levels were associated with increased ascending aorta diameter (β = 0.10, 95%CI 0.02-0.17) and decreased left ventricular end systolic diameter (β = -0.10, 95%CI -0.19 to -0.01). The effects of SHS exposure on cardiovascular function: norcotinine levels associated with lower left ventricular mass index (β = -0.32, 95%CI -0.59 to -0.05), left ventricular end diastolic volume index (β = -0.43, 95%CI -0.85 to -0.02), and left ventricular end systolic volume index (β = -0.20, 95%CI -0.37 to -0.03). Moreover, there no no significant associations of nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine with cardiovascular health. Overall, SHS exposure in children remains prevalent in Beijing and may affect children's cardiovascular development, in both structure and function. It suggests that stricter and practical measures are needed toward the elimination of tobacco use in children's environments.
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