Impairment of the atrial substrates by chronic cigarette smoking in patients with atrial fibrillation

Ta Chuan Tuan, Shih Lin Chang, Ching Tai Tai, Yenn Jiang Lin, Yu Feng Hu, Li Wei Lo, Wanwarang Wongcharoen, Ameya R. Udyavar, Shuo Ju Chiang, Yi Jen Chen, Hsuan Ming Tsao, Kwo Chang Ueng, Shih Ann Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Smoking, Voltage, and Atrial Fibrillation. Background: Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The impact of smoking on the right and left atrial substrates is unknown. Methods: This study included 88 patients (age 50 ± 13 years, M/F = 71/17) who underwent four pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The mean voltage and total activation time of the individual atria were obtained by using a NavX mapping system, and were compared between the patients with and without a previous smoking history. The dose effect was evaluated by the smoking intensity-duration, defined as the number of packs per day plus how many years they had been smoking. Results: The right atrial (RA) mean voltage was lower in the patients with a previous history of smoking than in those without a history of smoking (1.92 ± 0.49 vs 2.17 ± 0.56 mV, P < 0.05). The left atrial (LA) mean voltage was similar between the two groups (1.73 ± 0.67 vs 1.82 ± 0.48 mV, P = 0.488). Further, the total activation time of the RA was longer in the patients with a previous history of smoking than in those without a history of smoking, but not so for the LA. Furthermore, the voltage reduction in the RA was related to the smoking intensity-duration (Pearson's correlation, r = 0.650, P < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with atrial fibrillation, the RA mean voltage and total activation time were significantly correlated to smoking and had a dose-dependent effect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)259-265
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Volume19
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Pulmonary vein isolation
  • Smoking
  • Total activation time
  • Voltage

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impairment of the atrial substrates by chronic cigarette smoking in patients with atrial fibrillation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this