Tobacco Smoke Exposure Is Associated With Attenuated Endothelial Function in 11-Year-Old Healthy Children

Abstract

Background-Passive smoking is associated with early arterial damage in adults, but its effect on endothelial function in children is unknown. Methods and Results-Serum cotinine concentration was measured annually in children between 8 and 11 years of age who had participated since infancy in a randomized, prospective atherosclerosis prevention trial (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for children [STRIP]). At age 11, endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilatory responses of the brachial artery were examined with high-resolution ultrasound in 402 children. These children were divided into 3 groups according to serum cotinine concentrations: the noncotinine group (nondetectable cotinine, nϭ229), the low cotinine group (cotinine between 0.2 and 1.6 ng/mL, nϭ134), and the top decile cotinine group (cotinine Ն1.7 ng/mL, nϭ39). Longitudinal cotinine data in children aged 8 to 11 years and ultrasound studies were available in 327 children. At age 11, the increase in cotinine concentration was associated with attenuated peak flow-mediated dilation response (meanϮSD: the noncotinine group 9.10Ϯ3.88%, the low-cotinine group 8.57Ϯ3.78%, and the top-decile cotinine group 7.73Ϯ3.85%; Pϭ0.03 for trend). Similarly, total dilation response (the area under the dilation response versus time curve between 40 and 180 seconds after hyperemia) was affected by the cotinine level (Pϭ0.02 for trend). These trends were not explained by traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. Arterial measures and passive smoking showed even stronger associations when longitudinal cotinine data were used (peak flow-mediated dilation, Pϭ0.01 for trend; total dilation response, Pϭ0.008 for trend). Conclusions-Exposure

The Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and its Relation to Certain Risk Predictors of Cardiovascular Diseases in Central-Slovakian Roma Children and Adolescents

“…Among adolescents (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), the number of smokers is considerably higher in both ethnic groups, notably higher in Roma (36.8%) compared to non-Roma. In the control group, a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking was noted in females (16.2%).…”

“…As passive smokers, Roma children and adolescents face a higher risk of atherosclerosis onset, accelerated by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Studies have shown: analyzed serum level of peroxide and index of oxidative stress leading to pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is significantly higher and serum antioxidant response is lower in children exposed to ETS (15) and negatively affects endothelial function (16); the decrease of HDL-C, an increase of thrombocyte aggregation and endothelial dysfunction was noted in healthy adolescents exposed to ETS (17). The influence of parents' smoking habits on their offspring (and further development of CVD) (18) was shown in the high prevalence of smoking in Roma youth.…”

The evaluation of right and left ventricular functions in children with episodic wheezing exposed to environmental tobacco smoke

“…Endothelium dysfunction was shown in healthy children at the age of 11 exposed to cigarette smoke 8 . It was reported that carotid intima-media thickness increased with passive smoking in adults [24][25][26] .…”

“…Although there are many studies showing the effect of the environmental tobacco smoke exposure on the vascular functions in children [8][9][10] , there are no studies showing its effects on the right and left ventricular functions. The objective of this study is to examine the right and left ventricular functions in children with episodic wheezing at the age of 1-3 exposed to ETS.…”

Urine α-Glutathione S-Transferase, systemic inflammation and arterial function in juvenile type 1 diabetes

“…Similar to active smoking, ETS seems to adversely influence vascular function [28] even in healthy children [29], and to cause noxious effects on glomerular function [30].…”