CHRONIC USE OF LIGHT OR REGULAR CIGARETTES AND FLOW MEDIATED DILATION

Objective: to compare the effect of “light” and “regular” cigarettes on brachial artery (BA) flow mediated dilation (FMD). Methods: BA-FMD was evaluated in 45 light-cigarette consumers, in 45 regular-cigarettes consumers and in 45 never-smokers. The groups were matched for age, sex and status of hypercholesterolemia. FMD was calculated either considering the percent change of BA versus the “at-rest” diameter (FMDvs.at-rest) or considering the percent change versus the BA diameter measured in the last 60 seconds of cuff inflaction (FMDvs.last-60”). Cigarettes were defined as “light” or “regular” according to the concomitant presence of tar and nicotine above or below 9 and 0.8 mg, respectively. Results: In never-smokers, BA diameter increased during cuff inflation (change: 0.004±0.012; p=0.023). In smokers no changes in BA diameter during cuff inflation were observed (change: -0.001±0.014; p=0.6). In smokers, FMD was lower than in never smokers both considering the FMDvs.at-rest (3.4±3.0% vs. 6.3±3.2%; p<0.0001) and the FMDvs.last-60” (3.5±3.4 vs 5.2±3.3 respectively; p=0.007). In the whole group, both FMDvs.at-rest and FMDvs.last-60” were inversely associated with pack-years (both ptrend<0.0001). FMDvs.at-rest of both light (2.78±3.13 %) or regular (4.03±2.93%) cigarette consumers were reduced with respect to never-smokers (6.26±3.21%) (p<0.0004 and p=0.002, respectively) but no differences were observed when the FMDvs.at-rest of light- and regular- cigarette consumers were compared (p=0.173). Almost identical results were obtained when FMDvs.last-60” were considered. Conclusion: Light and regular cigarettes have the same detrimental effect of FMD, thus light cigarette consumption cannot be considered as a good alternative to smoking cessation. Funding: Researches described were supported in part by Philip Morris USA Inc. and Philip Morris International.