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Vascular abnormalities associated with long-term cigarette smoking identified by arterial waveform analysis
G E McVeigh1, D J Morgan, S M Finkelstein
1Division of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
The American Journal of Medicine
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Long-term cigarette smoking alters arterial waveform shape, indicating preclinical vascular injury. This change in pulsatile hemodynamics may predict future health risks in smokers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Vascular Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Arterial pulse contour changes with aging and disease, impacting blood vessel compliance.
- Long-term cigarette smoking is known to affect vascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if vascular adaptations in smokers influence hemodynamics at a preclinical stage.
- To investigate the impact of smoking on arterial structure and tone.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed intra-arterial brachial artery waveforms in 35 smokers and 32 controls.
- Segmented diastolic pressure decay into compliance and pulse-wave reflection components.
Main Results:
- Smokers had higher heart rates and lower blood pressures than controls.
- A significant decrease in the amplitude and duration of the diastolic wave was observed in smokers.
- No differences in cardiac output, large artery compliance, or systemic vascular resistance were found.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative changes in arterial waveform shape indicate preclinical vascular injury in smokers.
- Altered peripheral vasculature affects pulsatile arterial function.
- This vascular injury marker may aid in risk stratification for chronic smokers.