Blood pressure outcome and quitting smoking: prevention or progression of cardiovascular damage?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jash.2016.03.114Get rights and content

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Background

The relationship between blood pressure (BP) and quitting smoking with regard to the characteristics of arterial and heart damage has not been still stably assessed. According to recent reports, quitting smoking is followed by a progressive and definite disappearance of cardiovascular damage. The purpose of this study was to establish BP outcome and cardiac harm in hypertensive individuals, who quit smoking.

Material and Methods

This study analyzed retrospectively 1,232 ever smokers (100%) with arterial hypertension (mean value: 165+/- 18 mmHg for systolic and 92+/- 6 mmHg for diastolic BP). 724 patients (pts)as chronic smokers (59%) early quit smoking, while 508 (41%) continued to smoke quitting several years later.

Results

Chronic smokers usually display hypertension (mean blood pressure: systolic BP 165+/-18 mmHg and diastolic BP 92+/-6 mmHg). 265 pts (52%) who early stopped smoking displayed a significant reduction in BP, mainly systolic BP (mean BP of 147+/-11 mmHg)and 23 of these pts (9%) also showed ischemic heart disease. On the contrary, 243 pts (48%) who stopped smoking several years later (> 22 years)from their beginning showed mean systolic BP of 169+/-22 mmHg and ischemic heart disease (168 pts, 69%).

Conclusion

Prevention and reduction of cardiovascular damage has been documented in presence of reversible alterations, while progression in case of firm vascular changes was the result of late quitting smoking with an increase in BP and appearance of ischemic heart disease, which were partly independent from smoking cessation.

Keywords

Quitting Smoking; Blood Pressure; Hypertension; Vascular Damage

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