Cigarette Smoking Linked to Thickening of Heart Walls

Cigarette smoking is associated with a thickening of the heart wall and a reduction in heart function, according to the results of a recent study.

While cigarette smoking has been associated with increased risk of heart failure independent of coronary artery disease, the effects of smoking on the structure and function of the heart are less well understood.
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To further examine, researchers studied 4580 individuals free from overt coronary artery disease, heart failure, and significant valvular disease who participated in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study and underwent transthoracic echocardiography.

The participants were classified as never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers, based on self-reporting, and pack-years and years of smoking were estimated.

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, compared with never smokers, current smokers had a greater left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV mass/volume ratio, higher prevalence of LV hypertrophy, and worse diastolic function.

Estimated pack-years and years of smoking and cumulative cigarette exposure were associated with greater LV mass index, LV mass/volume ratio, and worse diastolic function in current smokers following multivariable analysis.

“Active smoking and cumulative cigarette exposure were associated with subtle alterations in LV structure and function in an elderly, community-based population free of overt coronary artery disease and heart failure,” the authors concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Nadruz W Jr, Claggett B, Gonçalves A, et al. Smoking and cardiac structure and function in the elderly: the ARIC Study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) [published online September 13, 2016]. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. doi:10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.116.004950.