Daily assessment of arterial distensibility in a pediatric population before and after smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVE
Cigarette smoking is an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor associated with increased stiffness of the large arteries in adulthood. This study aimed to 1) evaluate arterial distensibility and echocardiographic measures in adolescent smokers before and after participation in a successful smoking cessation program and to 2) compare the findings obtained with data from a control population of healthy non-smokers.


METHODS
A total of 31 young smoking subjects (58.1% male; range: 11-18 years old; mean: 16.5±1.4 years old; mean tobacco consumption: 2.6±0.6 years) were examined before commencing and after taking part for at least 1 year in a smoking cessation program (mean: 1.4±0.3 years). Arterial stiffness was measured using the previously validated QKd100-60 method. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and transthoracic echocardiography were also performed.


RESULTS
(Smokers before abuse cessation vs. smokers after abuse cessation) systolic blood pressure: p<0.004; diastolic blood pressure: p<0.02; mean blood pressure: p<0.01; QKd100-60 value: 183±5 vs. 196±3 msec, p<0.009; p = ns for all echocardiographic parameters. (Smokers after abuse cessation vs. controls) systolic blood pressure: p<0.01; diastolic blood pressure: p<0.03; mean blood pressure: p<0.02; QKd100-60 value: 196±3 vs. 203±2 msec, p<0.04; p<0.02, p<0.01, and p<0.05 for the interventricular septum, posterior wall, and left ventricular mass, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite successful participation in a smoking cessation program, arterial distensibility improved but did not normalize. This finding underlines the presence of the harmful effect of arterial rigidity in these individuals, despite their having quit smoking and their young ages, thus resulting in the subsequent need for a lengthy follow-up period.
Unit of Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Pier Paolo
PP
Bassareo
Section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Puericulture, Department of Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Vassilios
V
Fanos
Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Antonio
A
Crisafulli
Unit of Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Mercuro
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004548:Elasticity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*