Relation between Tobacco Smoking/Electronic Smoking and Albuminuria/Vascular Stiffness in Young People without Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: Tobacco smoking is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases. In recent years, alternative types of smoking, including vaping, have been becoming popular. The contribution of vape to vascular and renal injury is not known. We studied the relation between smoking of traditional/electronic cigarettes and arterial stiffness and albuminuria, which is also a vascular dysfunction marker. Methods: We examined 270 young volunteers without significant clinical cardiovascular diseases (mean age: 21.2 ± 2.3 years). Twenty-seven percent of the subjects in the study group were smokers; 69.9% of them smoked traditional cigarettes and 30.1% smoked electronic cigarettes. The urine albumin level was assessed by a dipstick test, and the augmentation index was determined by photoplethysmography. A linear correlation test and multiple regression analysis were applied. Results: The study groups did not differ in basic characteristics. The smokers demonstrated generally higher blood pressure levels and were overweight. Most of the smokers were male. In the groups of smokers, albuminuria was more frequent, especially among vapers (94 vs. 79% in tobacco smokers and 29% in nonsmokers). AU values (median [quartile 25; quartile 75]) were significantly higher in vapers (160 mg/L [150; 207.5]) vs. tobacco smokers (115 mg/L [60; 200]) and vs. nonsmokers (20 mg/L [10; 50]) (р < 0.05). Photoplethysmographic results showed relevant higher augmentation indices among tobacco smokers (-4, [-6.6; -1.9]) and vapers (-5.05 [-13.4; -3.3]) compared to nonsmokers (-16.2 [-23.9; -7]) (р < 0.05). Results of multiple regres-sion analysis demonstrate that smoking of both traditional and electronic cigarettes is related to an increase in the albuminuria level and the augmentation index. Conclusions: Smoking of both traditional and electronic cigarettes is related to albuminuria and an increase in the augmentation index, which is a noninvasive marker for arterial stiffness.

Effect of Water-Pipe Smoking on the Normal Development of Zebrafish

“…Numerous studies found a link between tobacco smoking and severe diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, and stroke [ 1 , 31 , 32 ]. However, the effect of tobacco and, more specifically, WPS on the embryos is not yet fully understood.…”

How Electronic Cigarette Affects the Vascular System

“…Journal of Smoking Cessation plaque (p < 0:0001), microvascular endothelial dysfunction, and reduced endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) levels (2.6%; p = 0:018) that related with endothelial dysfunction [15,[17][18][19]. One study did not compare effects of using electronic cigarettes with nonusers but observed that the markers of platelet activation (29%; p = 0:04), oxidative stress (23%; p = 0:02), and endothelial dysfunction (16%; p = 0:02) of electronic cigarette users were lower than conventional cigarette users [16].…”

“…The difference in generated products of e-liquid and tobacco leaf is evidence for smokers to switch from conventional cigarettes to electronic cigarettes [11-13, 16, 19, 20]. However, long-term exposure to the mentioned eliquid heating byproducts, though in little amounts, still explains the health chronic effects that are supported by the rest of the studies [15,[17][18][19][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Early Diagnosis of Kidney Damage Associated with Tobacco Use: Preventive Application

“…Smoking-related renal injury shares pathophysiological mechanisms with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension, such as insulin resistance and increased sympathetic nervous activity [ 18 ], which is why an increase in albuminuria, proteinuria, and hyperfiltration is observed in most studies on the relationship between tobacco consumption and kidney damage (alterations similar to those pathologies) [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Our study confirms these findings for smokers with risk factors and also demonstrates the effect of smoking on urinary albumin/protein excretion in subjects from the general population with apparently normal kidney function, as described in a study by Halimi et al [ 22 ] conducted with 28,409 subjects.…”