A STUDY OF ECG INTERVALS IN HEALTHY YOUNG MALE SMOKERS COMPARED TO NON-SMOKERS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

BACKGROUND Tobacco consumption has many worst health outcomes. Tobacco is consumed in many forms and one such form is cigarette smoking. Its use leads to sudden coronary death, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension and the list is endless. 1 Aim-To evaluate ECG intervals in apparently healthy young male smokers compared to non-smokers using a 12-lead ECG record. Objective-To evaluate and compare variations in ECG waves, segments and intervals in apparently 150 healthy young male smokers and 150 non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Descriptive comparative study over total duration of 24 months. For convenience 150 young, apparently healthy smokers and nonsmokers in the age group of 18 - 35 yrs. were taken. Settings and Design-Medicine OPD of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Karad (Tertiary Care). RESULTS PR interval was significantly shortened among smokers. No statistically significant difference in QRS interval between the two groups. QTC interval was slightly higher among smokers (0.38 sec) than non-smokers. TP interval was 0.29 +/- 0.014, 0.25 +/- 0.014 among control and smokers respectively. There is statistically significant decrease seen in smokers. CONCLUSION Smoking induces significant alteration in cardiac electrophysiology like shortening of PR and TP interval, prolongation of QTc interval in apparently healthy young individuals, which may predispose to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the long run.