Key result
Smoking light cigarettes impairs coronary flow velocity reserve to the same extent as regular cigarettes.
Why the study?
Does smoking light cigarettes impair coronary flow velocity reserve as severely as regular cigarettes?
Cross-Sectional (n=62)
Single-blind
No
Does smoking light cigarettes impair coronary flow velocity reserve as severely as regular cigarettes?
Smoking light cigarettes impairs coronary microvascular function, as measured by CFVR, as severely as regular cigarettes, challenging the perception that they are less hazardous.
Light cigarettes may impair CFVR as much as regular ones; challenges reduced-harm perceptions but leaves causality open in observational data.
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.
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Güllü et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy Smokers and Non-smokers (n=62). Light cigarette smoking vs. Non-smoker controls was evaluated on Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) (p=0.013). Smoking light cigarettes chronically and acutely impairs coronary flow velocity reserve to the same extent as regular cigarettes, with both smoking groups showing significantly lower values than non-smoking controls.
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