Comparison of electrocardiographic arrhythmia parameters of smoking and non-smoking patients with normal coronary arteries

Introduction and Aim: Smoking is the most important preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; studies on its cardiovascular effects are mainly on atherosclerosis, and there is more limited data on its effects on arrhythmia. By including smokers and non-smokers with normal coronary arteries in our study, we aimed to show the effect of smoking on electrocardiographic arrhythmia parameters, regardless of the atherosclerosis process. Materials and Methods: This study is a single-center, non-randomized, prospective study. Forty-eight smoker patients and 50 non-smoker patients with normal coronary arteries detected by conventional coronary angiography or coronary computed tomography angiography were included in the study. QRS duration, QT interval, JT interval, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc, Tp-e/JTc ratios were calculated. QTc, QTdc and JTc intervals were calculated using the Fridericia formula. Materials and Methods: This study is a single-center, non-randomized, prospective study. Forty-eight smoker patients and 50 non-smoker patients with normal coronary arteries detected by conventional coronary angiography or coronary computed tomography angiography were included in the study. QRS duration, QT interval, JT interval, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc, Tp-e/JTc ratios were calculated. QTc, QTdc and JTc intervals were calculated using the Fridericia formula. Results: Tp-e/JT ratio was found to be increased in smokers compared to non-smokers (p value: 0.04). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in other parameters. Conclusion and Recommendations: Probably the main effect of smoking on arrhythmia begins after atherosclerosis occurs. Multicenter studies with higher number of patients are needed to demonstrate the effect of smoking on arrhythmia, independent of the atherosclerosis process.