The effect of smoking on atrial and ventricular functions in healthy subjects: A speckle tracking echocardiography study

Abstract

Purpose Smoking is a well‐known risk factor for coronary artery diseases. It is also associated with nicotine‐induced myocardial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the right and left atrial and ventricular functions in apparently healthy smokers. Methods We included consecutively 80 healthy smokers (56 males, mean age:35.5 ± 8.4 years) and 70 healthy nonsmokers (44 males, mean age:33.9 ± 9.5 years). None of the subjects had any additional cardiovascular risk factor other than smoking. The right and left atrial and ventricular functions were assessed by both conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography. Results Although there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, the smokers had significantly lower ventricular global longitudinal strain than controls (−19.9 ± 2.0% vs −21.2 ± 1.9%, P < .001 and −18.4 ± 2.1% vs −21.8 ± 2.2%, P < .001, respectively, for the left and right ventricle). Smokers had also lower atrial reservoir and conduit strains: 35.9 ± 11.1% vs 40.2 ± 11.2%, P = .022 and 16.7 ± 6.8% vs 19.4 ± 6.8%, P = .016, respectively, for the left atrium, and 33.0 ± 10.6% vs 37.6 ± 11.2%, P = .011 and 15.2 ± 5.6% vs 18.0 ± 6.3%, P = .004, respectively, for the right atrium). Conclusion Even in apparently healthy people with no other cardiovascular risk factors, smoking is associated with impaired atrial and ventricular functions.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Estimated Using the SHSES Scale, and Feature Tracking Computed Tomography-Derived Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Hypertensive Patients

“…Number of cigarettes smoked each day did not significantly impact on LV GLS. This suggests that even light healthy smokers could have reduced cardiac function [ 16 ]. Effects on cardiac function and structure were also studied among people exposed to tobacco smoke in their households and who did not have CAD or severe valvular disease.…”

Harmful Impact of Tobacco Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on the Atrial Myocardium

“…In a study of 80 healthy smokers and 70 healthy non-smokers, smokers had significantly lower atrial reservoir and conduit strains for both the right and left atrium [ 19 ]. No statistically significant difference was seen between 119 smokers and 266 non-smokers in left atrial reservoir strain [ 20 ] or between 121 current, 121 former, and 125 never smokers for peak atrial longitudinal strain [ 21 ].…”

Normal Ranges of Right Atrial Strain and Strain Rate by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Among these modalities, 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) is prominent because of its angle independence when compared with tissue Doppler imaging, low load dependency when compared with volumetric methods in normal subjects, and relative resistance against translational motion (6)(7)(8). The 2DSTE modality can evaluate RA phasic functions in healthy subjects and demonstrate impairment in various disorders such as diabetes and pulmonary hypertension (4,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). This echocardiographic modality also has a prognostic role in pulmonary hypertension and postmyocardial infarction events (24)(25)(26).…”