Early Smoking Habit Increases Risk of Premature Heart Disease: Researchers - Video

Cigarette smoking from childhood into early adulthood is associated with an increased risk of premature cardiac injury, according to a study published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. This early damage to the structure and function of the heart can also significantly increase the chance of future cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in mid-life.

Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland collaborating with the University of Bristol used the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort data to examine the impact of tobacco smoking during growth from childhood to young adulthood and its association with structural and functional cardiac injury.

The analysis included 1,931 young adults with complete smoking and echocardiographic measures at 24 years. The prevalence of smoking was 0.3%, 1.6%, 13.6%, 24%, and 26.4% at ages 10, 13, 15, 17, and 24 years, respectively, and 60% of those who initiated smoking in childhood continued smoking at 24 years.

Researchers found that tobacco smoking from age 10 to 24 years was associated with 33% to 52% odds of premature structural and functional cardiac injury. Additionally, it was associated with cardiac mass increase, even after controlling for competing risk factors.

Key study results include:

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy prevalence increased from 2.8% to 7.5% at age 24.

Left ventricular diastolic (LVD) dysfunction prevalence increased from 10.4% to 16.9% at age 24.

Increased risk of high relative wall thickness (RWT) and high left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP).

Increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in both unadjusted and adjusted models from ages 17 – 24 years.

References: Agbaje, A. Incidental and Progressive Tobacco Smoking in Childhood and Subsequent Risk of Premature Cardiac Damage. JACC. null2024, 0 (0) .https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.09.1229