acute and chronic sympathomimetic effects of e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette smoking: role of nicotine and non-nicotine constituents.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research article published in the american Journal of Physiology - heart and Circulatory Physiology. The article compares the acute and chronic effects of e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette smoking on heart rate variability (hRV) and hemodynamics, with a focus on the role of nicotine and non-nicotine constituents. The study includes 100 smokers, including 58 chronic e-cigarette users and 42 tobacco cigarette smokers. The study aims to determine if baseline hRV and hemodynamics are similar in chronic e-cigarette users and tobacco cigarette smokers, and if acute e-cigarette use changes hRV and hemodynamics in a similar way to tobacco cigarette smoking.

Key Points:

* The study included 100 smokers, with 58 chronic e-cigarette users and 42 tobacco cigarette smokers.
* Baseline hRV and hemodynamics were similar in chronic e-cigarette users and tobacco cigarette smokers.
* after acute e-cigarette use, blood pressure and heart rate increased, but hRV did not change.
* after acute tobacco cigarette smoking, blood pressure and heart rate increased, but hRV did not change.
* Despite a similar increase in nicotine, the hemodynamic increases were significantly greater after tobacco cigarette smoking compared to e-cigarette use.
* The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02724241).
* The study was published in the american Journal of Physiology - heart and Circulatory Physiology.

Main Message:
The study found that chronic e-cigarette users and tobacco cigarette smokers exhibit a similar level of sympathetic nerve activity as estimated by hRV. acute increases in blood pressure and heart rate in e-cigarette users are attributable to nicotine, not non-nicotine constituents, in e-cigarette aerosol. acute tobacco cigarette smoking increased blood pressure significantly more than acute e-cigarette use, suggestive of additional adverse vascular effects attributable to combusted, non-nicotine constituents in tobacco cigarette smoke. These findings suggest that while e-cigarette use may be less harmful than tobacco cigarette smoking, it is not without risk and further research is needed to fully understand the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use.

arastoo S, haptonstall KP, Choroomi Y, et al. acute and chronic sympathomimetic effects of e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette smoking: role of nicotine and non-nicotine constituents. american journal of physiology heart and circulatory physiology. 2020;319(2):h262-h270. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00192.2020