Effect of hookah smoking on vascular wall stiffness in young people according to volumetric sphygmography

Nowadays, the use of tobacco through hookah smoking has become popular, especially among young people. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of hookah smoking on the parameters of vascular wall stiffness determined by volumetric sphygmography in young people (19–25 years old) without cardiovascular pathology. Materials and Methods . The main group included 60 students who have been using hookah for more than 1 year, at least 2 times a week. The control group included 57 students who did not use any type of nicotine-containing substances. The groups were comparable in age, body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate. In both groups, vascular wall stiffness was assessed by volumetric sphygmography. Results . Although the average value of the CAVI index was within the normal range in 20% (n=12) of the students of the main group, this index exceeded the age criteria and amounted to 7.5±0.3 m/s. Correlation analysis showed the relationship between the CAVI index and hookah smoking experience (r=0.46, p<0.01). A follow-up study was conducted 3 years later on 29.9% (n=38) of the students. Among them, 42.1% (n=16) quit hookah smoking, and 57.9% (n=22) continued to use hookah. The PWV and SAVI indicators significantly returned to normal in students who stopped smoking hookah, in contrast to the indicators of the students who continued to smoke hookah. Conclusion . Hookah smoking increases vascular wall stiffness in young people (19–25 years old) without cardiovascular pathology.