Daily assessment of arterial distensibility in a pediatric population before and after smoking cessation

Authors

  • Pier Paolo Bassareo University of Cagliari; Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?; Unit of Cardiology and Angiology
  • Vassilios Fanos University of Cagliari; Department of Surgery; Section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Puericulture
  • Antonio Crisafulli University of Cagliari; Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?; Sport Physiology Laboratory
  • Giuseppe Mercuro University of Cagliari; Department of Medical Sciences ?M. Aresu?; Unit of Cardiology and Angiology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2014(04)01

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: 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.

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Published

2014-04-01

Issue

Section

Clinical Sciences

How to Cite

Bassareo, P. P., Fanos, V., Crisafulli, A., & Mercuro, G. (2014). Daily assessment of arterial distensibility in a pediatric population before and after smoking cessation . Clinics, 69(4), 219-224. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2014(04)01