myocardial infarction and tobacco smoking: risk of heart rhythm and conduction disorders

myocardial infarction and tobacco smoking: risk of heart rhythm and conduction disorders e imani , msc n hajizadeh , bs z khademy , msc f naghizadeh , bsc received: 6 aug, 2009 accepted: 17 oct, 2009 abstract background & aims: smoking increases risk of myocardial infarction and its complications. in addition, it increases blood pressure, heart rate and vasoconstriction. the purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between smoking and heart rhythm in patients with myocardial infarction. materials & methods: this cross sectional study included 40 patients consuming cigarettes, 40 patients bubble and tobacco and 40 non-smoker patients with acute myocardial infarction. the samples were selected randomly. the occurrence of heart rhythm disorders and heart conduction were compared. the data were analyzed with statistical methods. results: in smokers the prevalence of sinus tachycardia was 12.5%, sinus bradycardia 60%, atrial fibrillation 17.5%, pvc 45%, rbbb 22.5%, and lbbb 37.5%. in bubble and tobacco using patients the prevalence of sinus tachycardia 5%, sinus bradycardia 35%, atrial fibrillation 5%, pvc 47.5%, rbbb 10% and lbbb 42.5% and in nonsmoker patients: sinus tachycardia 5%, sinus bradycardia 45%, atrial fibrillation 7.5%, pvc 20%, rbbb 7.5% and lbbb 32.5%. it was distinguished that there was a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and heart rhythm disorders (p<0.05) and there was not a significant relationship between bubble and smoking and heart disrrhythmia and heart conduction disorders (p>0.05). conclusions: active smoking can lead to heart rhythm disorders and its complications. further studies are recommended to compare the form of cardiac rhythm between people who smoke actively and those exposed to smoke. keywords: tobacco smoking, heart rhythm disorders, heart conduction disorders, myocardial infarction address: hormozgan university of medical sciences, bandar abbas, hormozgan, iran tel: (+98) 09179377802 email: [email protected]