Influence of smoking on physical function, physical activity, and cardiovascular health parameters in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease: A cross-sectional study

Breno Quintella Farah, Vera Lucia Silva Rigoni, Marilia de Almeida Correia, Nelson Wolosker, Pedro Puech-Leao, Gabriel Grizzo Cucato, Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of smoking on physical activity, walking capacity, and cardiovascular health in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This cross-sectional study included 180 patients with symptomatic PAD. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to smoking history: smoker (n = 39), ex-smoker (n = 113), and never smoker (n = 28). Physical activity levels, physical function, walking capacity, and cardiovascular health parameters (clinical blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability) were assessed. Smoker patients presented higher sympathetic modulation to the heart (low frequency of heart rate variability: smokers, 71 ± 17 nu; ex-smokers, 53 ± 32 nu; never smokers, 49 ± 21 nu, P < .05) and sympathovagal balance (smokers: 2.44 ± 2.76, ex-smokers: 1.14 ± 1.74, never smokers: 1.04 ± 0.99, P < .05) and lower parasympathetic modulation to the heart (high frequency of heart rate variability: smokers, 29 ± 27 nu; ex-smokers, 47 ± 32 nu; never smokers, 51 ± 21 nu, P < .05) than other patients. In conclusion, nonsignificant differences were observed on physical activity levels, physical function, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness (P > .05). Smoking impairs cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with symptomatic PAD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)106-112
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Vascular Nursing
Volume37
Issue number2
Early online date1 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of smoking on physical function, physical activity, and cardiovascular health parameters in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease: A cross-sectional study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this