Echocardiographic consequences of smoking status in middle-aged subjects

Echocardiography. 2017 Jan;34(1):14-19. doi: 10.1111/echo.13375. Epub 2016 Sep 29.

Abstract

Background: Smoking is known to have many short- and long-term cardiovascular effects. Cardiac index (CI), which is cardiac output indexed to body surface area, is considered to be a valid measure of cardiac performance. We investigated whether there were any differences in CI or other echocardiographic variables between never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers in a cardiopulmonary healthy population.

Methods: Subjects (n=355) from a previous population-based respiratory questionnaire survey (never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers without significant chronic obstructive lung disease) were examined with echocardiography, and CI (L/min/m2 ) was calculated.

Results: Current smokers had a higher CI than never smokers 2.61±0.52 L/min/m2 vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m2 (P<.01). Ex-smokers had a nonsignificant, numerically higher value for CI than never smokers 2.54±0.54 L/min/m2 vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m2 (P>.05). Smoking status had no significant effect on other echocardiographic variables.

Conclusion: We conclude that currents smokers without known cardiac disease or significant chronic obstructive lung disease show signs of slightly altered hemodynamics.

Keywords: cardiac index; echocardiography; smoking.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Output / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden / epidemiology