Key result
A 21 mg nicotine patch increased cardiac output and attenuated total peripheral resistance increases during stress in light/intermittent smokers, but had no effect in habitual smokers.
Why the study?
Does a 21 mg nicotine patch alter stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity differently in habitual versus light/intermittent male smokers?
RCT (n=132)
Does a 21 mg nicotine patch alter stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity differently in habitual versus light/intermittent male smokers?
Nicotine administration alters stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity primarily in light/intermittent smokers (who exhibit a myocardial response) rather than habitual smokers (who exhibit a peripheral response).
May modulate stress hemodynamics by smoking status; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
The effects of 12 hr nicotine administration and abstinence on stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity were assessed within Light/Intermittent cigarette smokers and Habitual cigarette smokers. One hundred thirty-two male smokers (66 Habitual, 66 Light/Intermittent) were assigned to a Nicotine (21 mg) or Placebo patch condition. Cardiovascular reactivity was assessed during Baseline, a 6-min mental arithmetic task (Paced Auditory Serial Arithmetic Task) and a 5-min mirror-tracing task (Star Mirror Tracing Task). Within the Nicotine condition, Light/Intermittent smokers showed greater cardiac output (CO) increases, smaller stroke volume decreases, and smaller total peripheral resistance (TPR) increases than Light/Intermittent smokers in the Placebo condition. No condition differences in cardiovascular reactivity were demonstrated for Habitual smokers. Light/Intermittent smokers also showed greater CO increases than Habitual smokers during the mirror-tracing task but during the Nicotine condition only. During mental arithmetic, Light/Intermittent smokers had greater CO increases and smaller TPR increases than Habitual smokers across nicotine conditions. Habitual smokers responded to stress with increases in peripheral responses whereas Light/Intermittent smokers responded myocardially. Light/Intermittent smokers may have increased density of β-adrenergic receptors whereas Habitual smokers may have decreased density due to chronic smoking.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tomasulo et al. (2016) conducted an RCT in Cigarette smokers (n=132). Nicotine patch vs. Placebo patch was evaluated on Stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity (cardiac output, stroke volume, total peripheral resistance). A 21 mg nicotine patch increased cardiac output and attenuated total peripheral resistance increases during stress in light/intermittent smokers, but had no effect in habitual smokers.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: