Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Heart Rate Variability and Plasma N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Healthy Subjects: Is There the Relationship between Both Markers?

Background: Cigarette smoking increased the risk of acute cardiac events related with endothelial dysfunction and increased sympathetic activity. Impaired autonomic nervous activity is recognized as a considerable symptom of cardiac dysfunction and is strongly associated with increased risk overall mortality. Methods: A total of 75 healthy habitual smokers (40 female, 35 male, mean age 36.5 ± 8.5 years), and 73 non‐smokers subjects (45 female, 28 male, mean age 34.6 ± 7.2 years) were studied. LF and LF/HF ratio were significantly higher in smokers than in non‐smokers. On the contrary, SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, and HF values were lower in smokers compared to those in non‐smokers. Not the duration of smoking but the number of cigarettes smoked per day was correlated with the HRV parameters and NT‐pro BNP. Furthermore, the average levels of NT‐pro BNP were found to be positively correlated with LF, LF/HF and inversely correlated with SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD and HF. Results: As a result, smoking impaires sympathovagal balance and decreases the heart rate variability in healthy subjects. And even a one cigarette smoking leads to overt sympathetic excitation. Furthermore, smoking results in an increase in NT‐proBNP levels and the changes in adrenergic nervous system and NT‐proBNP levels are well correlated. Conclusion: These findings could contribute to the higher rate of cardiovascular events in smokers.