Impact of smoking and smoking cessation on arterial stiffness in healthy participants.

Smoking is associated with increased arterial stiffness. However, the impact of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness remains unknown. We investigated the effect of smoking cessation on arterial stiffness. Healthy participants (n = 209) were divided into nonsmoking (NSm, n = 96), quit smoking (QSm, n = 61), and maintained smoking groups (MSm, n = 52). Arterial stiffness indexes (ankle-brachial index [ABI] and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV]) were assessed at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months. Baseline, arterial stiffness was significantly higher in the MSm and QSm groups than in the NSm group (P < .001). In the QSm group, there was significant difference in ABI between baseline and 12 months (P = .03). No significant differences were shown in baPWV. Both ABI and baPWV were similar between QSm and MSm group at 12 months. However, there was significant difference between QSm and NSm groups (P < .001). This study shows that 12 months of smoking cessation is associated with improved arterial stiffness.