Cigarette smoking slows the on- and the off- cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Cigarette Smoking (n=22). Intervention: Cigarette Smoking vs. Non-Smokers. Primary outcome: Cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during exercise (τ longer for SMK compared to CTRL).

Marta Borrelli; Asia Motalli; Christian Doria; Nicholas Toninelli; Stefano Longo; Giuseppe Coratella; Emiliano Cè; Susanna Rampichini; Fabio Esposito

doi:10.1007/s00421-026-06150-8

March 9, 2026European Journal of Applied PhysiologyOpen Access

Cigarette smoking slows the on- and the off- cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults

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Key result

Cigarette smoking is linked to slower cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise versus non-smokers.

τ longer for SMK compared to CTRL
n=22

Figures

Why the study?

The impact of cigarette smoking on cardiopulmonary function had been investigated in sedentary middle-aged smokers with pulmonary disease, but not in young smokers with high fitness levels.

Does cigarette smoking slow cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults?

Key Points

To determine the impact of cigarette smoking on cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during and after moderate-intensity exercise in young, physically active adults without known disease.
Enrolled 10 young physically active smokers (12 ± 5 cigarettes/day for 6 ± 2 years) and 12 exercise-matched non-smokers to perform incremental cycloergometric testing assessing maximal oxygen uptake and first ventilatory threshold.
Assessed on- and off-exercise cardiorespiratory kinetics across four 6-minute moderate-intensity cycling trials at 90% of the first ventilatory threshold, measuring time constants (τ) for heart rate, cardiac output, expiratory ventilation, and oxygen uptake.
Smokers showed significantly lower maximal oxygen uptake (3397 ± 316 vs. 3657 ± 325 ml∙min−1; P = 0.009), peak expiratory flow (-21%; P = 0.009), maximal voluntary ventilation (-12%; P = 0.008), and mechanical power at the first ventilatory threshold (185 ± 16 vs. 201 ± 26 W; P = 0.041).
During the exercise on-phase, smokers exhibited significantly longer time constants for cardiac output (+22%; P = 0.032), heart rate (+56%; P = 0.005), oxygen uptake (+41%; P = 0.032), and expiratory ventilation (+47%; P = 0.007).
During the recovery off-phase, time constants remained significantly prolonged in smokers for cardiac output (+51%; P = 0.041), heart rate (+42%; P = 0.022), oxygen uptake (+20%; P = 0.002), and expiratory ventilation (+42%; P = 0.018).

Structured PICO

Does cigarette smoking slow cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults?

P

Population

22 young, physically active males without known cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, comprising 10 smokers (SMK) and 12 non-smokers (CTRL) matched for age and exercise habits.

I

Intervention

Cigarette smoking (observational exposure: at least 6 cigarettes per day for a minimum of two continuous years; mean 12 ± 5 cigarettes/day for 6 ± 2 years).

C

Comparator

Non-smokers (CTRL) matched for age and exercise habits.

O

Outcome

Time constant (τ) of the on- and off-phases for expiratory ventilation (V̇E), pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2), heart rate (fH), and cardiac output (Q̇) during and after four 6-min moderate-intensity tests at 90% VT1.surrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: τ longer for SMK compared to CTRL

Cigarette smoking significantly slows cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during and after moderate exercise, even in young, physically active individuals with a short smoking history.

Limitations

Limited sample size and only male participants
Short smoking history of participants
Physicians' assessment of physical activity levels relied on self-reported questionnaires.

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Implication

Warrants cessation counseling even in young active males; extends harms to cardiopulmonary kinetics with brief smoking exposure.

Abstract

Cigarette smoking (CS) impact on cardiopulmonary function has been extensively investigated on sedentary, middle-aged smokers (SMK) with pulmonary disease, but not on young SMK with high fitness level. This study evaluated the cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during and after moderate exercise in young, physically active SM without known diseases. Ten SMK (age: 21 ± 2 year., body mass: 78 ± 6 kg; stature: 1.79 ± 0.07 m; 12 ± 5 cigarette/day for 6 ± 2 year.; mean ± SD) and twelve non-smokers (CTRL; age: 24 ± 3 year., body mass: 78 ± 9 kg; stature: 1.80 ± 0.08 m) matched also for exercise habits performed an incremental cycloergometric test to assess maximum pulmonary oxygen uptake ( \:V̇_O₂\:max ) and first ventilatory threshold (VT1). After pulmonary evaluation, participants performed four 6-min moderate-intensity tests at 90% VT1. The time constant (τ) of the on- and off-phases were determined for expiratory ventilation ( \:V̇E ), \:V̇_O₂ , heart rate (fH) and cardiac output ( \:Q̇ ). Despite similar static lung volumes, SMK exhibited lower peak expiratory flow (-21%; P = 0.009) and maximal voluntary ventilation (-12%; P = 0.008). SMK had lower \:V̇_O2\:max (3657 ± 325 vs. 3397 ± 316 ml∙min− 1 for CTRL and SMK, respectively; P = 0.009) and mechanical power at VT1 (201 ± 26 vs. 185 ± 16 W for CTRL and SMK respectively; P = 0.041). In on-phase, SMK demonstrated longer τ in \:Q̇ (+ 22%; P = 0.032), \:fH (+ 56%; P = 0.005), \:V̇_O₂ (+ 41%; P = 0.032), \:V̇E (+ 47%; P = 0.007) and. In off-phase, τ in SMK was lengthened for \:Q̇ (+ 51%; P = 0.041), \:fH (+ 42%; P = 0.022), \:V̇_O₂ (+ 20%; P = 0.002) and \:V̇E (+ 42%; P = 0.018). CS slowed cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics at moderate exercise even in young individuals with short smoking history.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Borrelli et al. (2026) studied Cigarette Smoking (n=22). Cigarette Smoking vs. Non-Smokers was evaluated on Cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during exercise (τ longer for SMK compared to CTRL). Cigarette smoking slowed cardiopulmonary and gas-exchange kinetics during both the on-phase and off-phase of moderate exercise in young physically active males compared to non-smokers.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b2577f96eeacc4fcec63b7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-026-06150-8

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Cigarette smoking slows the on- and the off- cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Cigarette smoking slows the on- and the off- cardiorespiratory and gas-exchange kinetics during moderate exercise in young, physically active adults

Figures

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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