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). CONCLUSION: 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.
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). CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Ron Borland; Hua-Hie Yong; Bill King; K Michael Cummings; Geoffrey T Fong; Tara Elton-Marshall; David Hammond; Ann McNeill Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Rajat S Barua; John A Ambrose; Lesley-Jane Eales-Reynolds; Mary C DeVoe; John G Zervas; Dhanonjoy C Saha Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2002-06-05 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Thomas Neunteufl; Sandra Heher; Karam Kostner; Goran Mitulovic; Stephan Lehr; Gholamali Khoschsorur; Rainer W Schmid; Gerald Maurer; Thomas Stefenelli Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2002-01-16 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Christos M Papamichael; Konstantinos A Aznaouridis; Kimon S Stamatelopoulos; Emmanouil N Karatzis; Athanassios D Protogerou; Theodoros G Papaioannou; John P Lekakis; Myron E Mavrikakis Journal: Vasc Med Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 3.239
Authors: Nick Wilson; Deepa Weerasekera; Jo Peace; Richard Edwards; George Thomson; Miranda Devlin Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-05-08 Impact factor: 3.295