Light cigarette smoking impairs coronary microvascular functions as severely as smoking regular cigarettes.
BACKGROUND
Smoking is the most prevalent and most preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Smoking low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes (light cigarettes) would be expected to be less hazardous than smoking regular cigarettes owing to the lower nicotine and tar yield.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the chronic and acute effects of light cigarette and regular cigarette smoking on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR).


METHODS
20 regular cigarette smokers (mean (SD) age 24.8 (5.0)), 20 light cigarette smokers (mean age 25.6 (6.4)), and 22 non-smoker healthy volunteers (mean age 25.1 (4.2)) were included. First, each subject underwent echocardiographic examination, including CFVR measurement, after a 12 hour fasting and smokeless period. Two days later, each subject smoked two of their normal cigarettes in a closed room within 15 minutes. Finally, within 20-30 minutes, each subject underwent an echocardiographic examination, including CFVR measurement.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) CFVR values were similar in light cigarette and regular cigarette smokers and significantly lower than in the controls (2.68 (0.50), 2.65 (0.61), 3.11 (0.53), p = 0.013). Before and after smoking a paired t test showed that smoking two light cigarettes acutely decreased the 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).


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes impairs the CFVR as severely as smoking regular cigarettes. CFVR values are similar in light cigarette and regular cigarette smokers and significantly lower than in controls.
Gullu
Hakan
H
Baskent University, Faculty of Medicine, Konya Teaching and Medical Research Centre, Cardiology Department, Ankara, Turkey. gulluhakan@hotmail.com
Caliskan
Mustafa
M
Ciftci
Ozgur
O
Erdogan
Dogan
D
Topcu
Semra
S
Yildirim
Erkan
E
Yildirir
Aylin
A
Muderrisoglu
Haldun
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013638:Tars / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
D005731:Ganglionic Stimulants; D013638:Tars; D009538:Nicotine; D002248:Carbon Monoxide