[24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic registry: differences between smokers and non-smokers and habit breaking effects].

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this work was to determine the prevalence of arrhythmias in a group of 90 smokers and to carry out a prospective study on electrocardiographic modifications due to smoking withdrawal.

METHODS

A Holter study was performed to 90 smokers and 30 non-smokers. Afterwards smokers were included in a smoking withdrawal program. One year later all subjects who stopped smoking underwent a new Holter study as well as 10 of the smokers who failed in smoking withdrawal.

RESULTS

Initial Holter study revealed that smokers had a significantly higher mean cardiac rate (p < 0.001), prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias (p < 0.01) and ventricular premature complexes (p < 0.05) than non-smokers. Holter study performed after smoking cessation, showed a statistically significant decrease of mean cardiac rate (p < 0.001) and supraventricular arrhythmias (p < 0.001). Holter study performed to the subjects who failed in smoking withdrawal showed no significant changes in relation to the study made the previous year.

CONCLUSIONS

Smokers present a higher cardiac rate and prevalence of arrhythmias than non-smokers. From these data it could be suggested that tobacco consumption has an arrhythmogenic effect that can be reverted, at least in part, after smoking withdrawal.