J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2007 Oct;28(10):748-753.

Smoking Status and Augmentation Index in Korean Male Subjects

• Woo EJ
• Lee HS
• Lee SH
• Shim KW
• Kim S
• Oh YA
• Lee MJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Arterial stiffness has been identified as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. Augmentation index is an indicator of arterial stiffness, which can be quantified noninvasively. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of current smoking status on augmentation index (AIx) in Korean male subjects.
METHODS
A total of 70 males without clinical cardiovascular diseases were studied in this cross sectional study. AIx was measured in 35 current smokers and 35 nonsmokers by recording pressure waveforms using radial applanation tonometry in a SphygmoCor device.
RESULTS
Augmentation index was significantly higher in the current smokers (19.4+/-12.9% vs. 9.7+/-12.8%; P<0.05). A multiple regression model confirmed that smoking status was independently associated with arterial stiffness (beta=0.350, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Current smoking is associated with increased augmentation index, which is a marker of cardiovascular disease. Further studies are required to investigate clinical applications of arterial stiffness.

Keyword

smoking; augmentation index; arterial stiffness

MeSH Terms

Cardiovascular Diseases
Humans
Male*
Manometry
Mortality
Risk Factors
Smoke*
Smoking*
Vascular Stiffness
Smoke