Light Cigarette Smoking Impairs Coronary Microvascular Functions as Severely as Smoking Regular Cigarette

Hakan Gullu ^1*, Mustafa Caliskan ¹, Ozgur Ciftci ¹, Dogan Erdogan ¹, Semra Topcu ¹, Erkan Yildirim ¹, Aylin Yildirir ¹ and Haldun Muderrisoglu ¹

¹ Baskent University, Konya Teaching and Medical Research Center, Turkey

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gulluhakan{at}hotmail.com.

Accepted 31 October 2006

Abstract

Background Smoking is the most prevailed and the most preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Smoking of low-tar, low-nicotine (light cigarette) cigarette looks like less hazardous than smoking regular cigarette for general population due to the lower nicotine and tar yield.

Purpose In this study, we compared the chronic and acute effects of light cigarette and regular cigarette smoking on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR).

Methods 20 Regular cigarette smokers (mean age:24.8±5.0) and 20 light cigarette smokers (mean age:25.6±6.4), and 22 nonsmoker healthy volunteers (mean age: 25.1±4.2) were included.<BR> In the first run, each subject underwent echocardiographic examination including CFVR measurement after 12 hours fast and smokeless period. Two days after, in the second run, each subject smoked two cigarettes, which were their usual cigarette, in a closed room within 15 minutes. Then, within 20-30 minutes, each subject underwent echocardiographic examination including CFVR measurement.

Results CFVR values were significantly and similarly lower in the light cigarette smokers and the regular cigarette smokers compared to the controls (2.68±0.50, 2.65±0.61, 3.11±0.53, P=0.013) (Table 1). Post hoc Sheffe analysis revealed that in both smokers group, CFVR values were significantly lower than that in the controls.<BR> Before smoking and after smoking paired t test revealed that smoking of two light cigarettes acutely decreased CFVR from 2.68±0.50 to 2.05±0.43 (P=0.001), and smoking of two regular cigarettes acutely decreased CFVR from 2.65±0.61 to 2.18±0.48 (P=0.001).

Conclusion Smoking of low-tar, low-nicotine cigarette impair CFVR as severely as regular cigarette.

Keywords: coronary flow reserve, echocardiography, light cigarette, smoking

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• (2007). "Light" cigarettes are not less risky. BMJ 334: 1189-1189 [Full Text]