Novel Aspects of Differences in Arterial Stiffness Parameters during Short Abstinent Period in Smokers vs. Non-smokers

Abstract

Although the effects of smoking on hemodynamics and arterial stiffness has already been evaluated from many aspects, self-controlled and 24-h data have remained a missing area. Ten healthy light smokers were examined in a cross-sectional observational study for 48 h [smoking was prohibited during the first 24 h (non-smoking day) and allowed during the second 24 h (smoking day)] with an oscillometric device. Control group consisted of ten healthy non-smokers. Peripheral blood pressures were significantly higher on the smoking day (134.11 ± 11.02 and 77.11 ± 10.64) than on the non-smoking day (127.23 ± 8.41, p = 0.017 and 71.25 ± 10.47, p = 0.02) or among non-smokers (120.80 ± 5.77, p = 0.005 and 68.37 ± 4.87, p = 0.04). Heart rate was significantly lower on the non-smoking day (64.89 ± 9.03) than among non-smokers (74.30 ± 8.22, p = 0.03) and on the smoking day (76.09 ± 10.53, p = 0.001). Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) was significantly higher on the smoking day (7.48 ± 1.17) than on the non-smoking day (7.00 ± 1.28, p = 0.03). Peripheral blood pressure results confirmed that smoking leads to both acute and subchronic elevation. Lower heart rate of smokers on the non-smoking day than non-smokers can be the consequence of improper heart rate adaptation to everyday activities. PWV values improved during the one-day long abstinent period suggesting that it is the most sensitive stiffness value to smoking cessation. •Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were the highest on the smoking day. •Heart rate of smokers was lower on the non-smoking day than that of non-smokers. •PWV of smokers was higher on the smoking day than on the non-smoking day. •There was no difference between AIX values on the non-smoking and smoking days.

Keywords

• Tobacco smoking
• arterial stiffness
• augmentation index
• pulse wave velocity
• 24-h long examination