[Vascular age assessment in smokers].
OBJECTIVE
Smoking is the most harmful social habit and is the origin of many diseases including direct damaging of arterial walls. The aim of this study was to assess the possible differences in vascular age of smokers versus never smokers, measured in common carotid artery (CCA).


METHODS
The study included healthy volunteers with age and sex risk factors for cerebrovascular disease development. Measurements in CCA were performed in M mode on an Aloka 5500 Prosound ultrasound platform bilaterally. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid interadventitial diameter (CID) and carotid interadventitial diameter change (CIDc) were recorded, and carotid interadventitial strain (CIS) was calculated. Median age subanalysis was performed for IMT, CIDc and CIS. Mann-Whitney statistics was used to determine group differences.


RESULTS
There were 121 subjects, 80 women and 41 men, mean age 47.43 +/- 14.15 years. There were 23 (19%) current smokers, 17 (14%) occasional smokers, 11 (9%) past smokers, and 70 (58%) non-smokers. A statistical increase in IMT was found in the group of previous smokers (the eldest) in the left CCA (P < 0.05). CIDc and CIS were statistically higher in the right CCA in the group of current smokers (P < 0.05 both). Older subjects had an increase in IMT values in both CCA and decrease in CIDc and CIS in the right CCA.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated cigarette smoking to primarily cause an increase in CIDc, whereas CIS remained preserved. Smoking influences vascular age. Additional studies are necessary to address the issue in a greater number of smokers.
Klinika za neurologiju, Referentni centar za neurovaskularne poremećaje, Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi RH, Klinicka bolnica "Sestre milosrdnice", Zagreb, Hrvatska. mkesic@inet.hr
Miljenka-Jelena
MJ
Jurasić
Sandra
S
Morović
Rada
R
Sarac
Vlasta
V
Vuković
Arijana
A
Lovrencić-Huzjan
Maida
M
Seferović
Mira
M
Ivanković
Vida
V
Demarin
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
Vaskularna dob pusaca.