Effect of Tobacco Chewing on Arterial Stiffness Index

Abstract

Tobacco abuse is a leading cause of premature deaths globally, and it is expected to rise in future. In India tobacco is abused in different forms, chewing is one of them. Unlike smoking, the ill effects of tobacco chewing have been less studied. Tobacco is known to affect the structural and mechanical properties of the arterial walls in many ways. This alters the arterial stiffness which is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

This study was intended to explore the ill effects of tobacco chewing on cardiovascular system. The study was performed on males belonging to the age group between 20-40 years with different history of tobacco consumption. Artery stiffness index (ASI) was measured via Pulse wave velocity recording which was recorded from the right index finger in sitting position through plethysmographic transducer using the Dicrowin, a PC based PPG analysis system. The signal from plethysmograph was digitalized using 12-bit analogue to digital converter with a sampling frequency of 200 Hz.

Artery stiffness index (ASI) of tobacco chewers of less than 10 years duration is found to be almost similar to age matched controls. However ASI of chewers of more than 10 years has been found to be significantly increased.

The increase in arterial stiffness has been attributed to the endothelial dysfunction, altering the levels of secretions like prostacyclin, endothelin, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukins etc. The changes in elastin and collagen proportion, in matrix metalloproteases and advanced glycation end products also play important role.

In present study we demonstrated that long term tobacco chewing is associated with adverse effect on Artery stiffness index which is an important predictor of cardiovascular well being.