The Effects of Smoking on Carotid Artery Hemodynamics

Background: Smoking is considered to be associated with a variety of public health problems. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of smoking on carotid artery hemodynamics in Saudi Arabian participants. Methods: In a quantitative descriptive study, 121 participants were investigated by B-mode and Doppler sonography: 76% (n = 92) were smokers, and 24% (n = 29) were nonsmokers. The mean age of all participants was 36 ± 2 years (range, 19-100). Carotid arteries for all participants were evaluated with 7-MHz linear transducer according to a standard carotid sonography protocol. Results: The majority of the smokers (89.1%) were asymptomatic. The prevalence of carotid plaques in the smoker group was 22.8% of the 92 subjects. There was a significant statistical association between frequency of smoking and age with the presence of plaques (P < .001). In the smoker group, 18.4% had measurable carotid artery atherosclerotic disease. The duration and frequency of smoking increased the percentage of carotid stenosis by 0.34% and 0.31% per year, respectively. Regardless of plaque presence and age increase, there was a linear association between the duration of smoking and an increase in carotid peak systolic and end diastolic velocities, which increased 0.62 and 0.65 per year, respectively. Conclusion: Current tobacco use has a strong association with carotid artery plaque and alterations in carotid hemodynamics in Saudi Arabian smokers.