Effect of environmental exposure to cigarette smoke on blood pressure in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A relationship between environmental exposure to cigarette smoke and blood pressure has not been well-established. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of environmental exposure to cigarette smoke on blood pressure (BP) in patients with essential hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 39 nonsmoking patients with essential hypertension treated with hypotensive agents and environmentally exposed to cigarette smoke (group 1) and 39 nonsmoking patients with essential hypertension treated with hypotensive agents and not exposed to cigarette smoke (group 2). The following variables of 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) were measured: systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP) during 24-hour ABPM, and, separately, for the period of daily activity and night rest. RESULTS: In group 1, the mean values of 24-hour SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP, daytime SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP, and nighttime SBP, MAP, and PP were significantly higher than those in group 2. Statistically significant positive linear correlations were demonstrated between the mean time of daily exposure (expressed in hours) to cigarette smoke and 24-hour MAP and PP (r = 0.52 and r = 0.48, respectively, P <0.05). Advanced age, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose concentrations, and environmental exposure to cigarette smoke were independent factors of elevated 24-hour PP in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with essential hypertension, environmental exposure to cigarette smoke may result in elevated BP values in 24-hour ABPM.