Search resultsAssociations between smoking and alcohol use and arterial elasticity in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension: A cross-sectional study
Title
Associations between smoking and alcohol use and arterial elasticity in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension: A cross-sectional study
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2017
Authors
Journal
Artery Research
Volume
20
Pagination
12 - 18
Date published
2017
Keywords
Abstract
Objective To assess the relationship between smoking and alcohol use (separately and combined) on arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension. Materials and Methods We assessed never-treated newly diagnosed patients with essential hypertension (n = 446) aged 18–80 years (52% males). Measurements included aortic stiffness, assessed as pulse wave velocity (PWV) (Complior), wave reflection (augmentation index [AIx]), and transit time [T R] SphygmoCor). Results The 446 patients were categorized as: non-smokers (n = 204), ex-smokers (n = 121), current smokers (n = 121), non-drinkers (n = 59), moderate drinkers (n = 281), heavy drinkers (n = 106). Both AIx and PWV were significantly higher in current smokers than in ex-smokers and non-smokers [(p < 0.02), (p < 0.01), respectively]. AIx and PWV were higher in non-drinkers followed by heavy drinkers and moderate drinkers [(p < 0.003), (p < 0.008), respectively]. Among current and ex-smokers there was no significant difference in PWV or AIx by alcohol consumption (p = NS), while in non-smokers AIx was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the non-drinkers followed by heavy drinkers and those with moderate alcohol consumption and PWV was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in heavy drinkers followed by non-drinkers and those with moderate alcohol consumption. Conclusion Moderate alcohol consumption exerts a favorable effect on arterial stiffness in essential hypertensive patients. However, the combined effect of smoking cancels this favorable effect.