Author/Authors :
Akbarzadeh، Mohammad Ali نويسنده Resident of Cardiology, Shahid Beheshti University, M.C., Tehran, Iran Akbarzadeh, Mohammad Ali , Yazdani، Shahrooz نويسنده Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , , Ghaidari، Mohamad Esmail نويسنده Associate Professor, Department of Cardiology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Asadpour-Piranfar، Mohammad نويسنده Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Bahrololoumi-Bafruee، Negar نويسنده General Practitioner, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical & Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Golabchi، Allahyar نويسنده Cardiologist, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University Of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , , Azhari، Amirhossein نويسنده Fellowship of Pacemaker and Invasive Electrophysiology, Department of Electrophysiology AND Shaheed Rajaei Cardiovascular and Medical Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of ventricular fibrillation and sudden
cardiac death (SCD). QT dispersion (QTD) is an important predictor of cardiac arrhythmia. The
aim of this study was to assess the acute effect of smoking a single standard cigarette containing
1.7 mg nicotine on QT interval and QTD in healthy smokers and nonsmokers.
METHODS: The study sample population consisted of 40 healthy male hospital staff, including
20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers. They were asked to refrain from smoking at least 6 h before
attending the study. A 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG), recorded at paper speed of 50
mm/s, was obtained from all participants before and 10 min after smoking of a single complete
cigarette. QT interval, corrected QT interval, QTD, and corrected QT dispersion (QTcD) were
measured before and after smoking.
RESULTS: Smokers and nonsmokers did not have any significant differences in heart rate (HR)
(before smoking = 67.35 ± 5.14 vs. 67.70 ± 5.07, after smoking = 76.70 ± 6.50 vs. 76.85 ± 6.50,
respectively), QTD (before smoking = 37.75 ± 7.16 vs. 39.15 ± 6.55, after smoking = 44.75 ±
11.97 vs. 45.50 ± 9.58, respectively), and QTcD (before smoking = 39.85 ± 7.40 vs. 41.55 ± 6.57,
after smoking = 50.70 ± 14.31 vs. 51.50 ± 11.71, respectively). However, after smoking a single
cigarette, HR, mean QTD, and QTcD significantly increased (all had P value < 0.001) in
comparison to the measures before smoking.
CONCLUSION: Smoking of a single complete cigarette in both smokers and nonsmokers results
in significant QTD increase, which can cause arrhythmia and SCD.
