Echocardiographic consequences of smoking status in middle-aged subjects

Background: Smoking is known to have many short- and long-term cardiovascular effects. Cardiac index (CI), which is cardiac output indexed to body surface area, is considered to be a valid measure of cardiac performance. We investigated whether there were any differences in CI or other echocardiographic variables between never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers in a cardiopulmonary healthy population. Methods: Subjects (n=355) from a previous population-based respiratory questionnaire survey (never smokers, ex-smokers, and current smokers without significant chronic obstructive lung disease) were examined with echocardiography, and CI (L/min/m²) was calculated. Results: Current smokers had a higher CI than never smokers 2.61±0.52 L/min/m² vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m² (P<.01). Ex-smokers had a nonsignificant, numerically higher value for CI than never smokers 2.54±0.54 L/min/m² vs. 2.42±0.49 L/min/m² (P>.05). Smoking status had no significant effect on other echocardiographic variables. Conclusion: We conclude that currents smokers without known cardiac disease or significant chronic obstructive lung disease show signs of slightly altered hemodynamics.