الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
Abstract
Background: chronic heavy cigarette smoking can affect the right ventricle (RV) through the affection of the lungs. The direct effect of cigarette smoking on the RV was not properly studied. Purpose: To evaluate the direct effect of chronic heavy cigarette smoking on the RV function.Methods: The study included 55 healthy chronic heavy cigarette smokers (smoking history of at least 5 pack-years and a daily cigarette consumption of at least 1 pack per day) and 35 healthy non-smoking control subjects. Obese patients and those with poor echocardiographic window were excluded. Patients underwent full clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiography. All the standard echocardiographic views were recorded in addition to the RV focused apical four-chamber view. RV conventional, as well as 2D-speckle tracking data, were compared in the two study groups. Results: The mean age was 32.9 ± 7.2 years in smokers and 30.9 ± 7.9 years in non-smokers (p=0.227). The 2 groups showed comparable left ventricular dimensions as well as systolic and diastolic functions