A Novel Approach to Evaluating the Effects of Waterpipe Smoking on Cardiac Signaling

摘要

This study sought to utilize a novel approach to evaluate the effects of Waterpipe Smoking (WPS) on cardiac signaling, 10 male mice were implanted with electrocardiography (ECG) monitors and randomized into an experimental (n=5) and control group (n=5). The experimental group was exposed to WPS and the control group was exposed to purified air (PA) for 2 hours per day, 4 days per week, for 2 months. Captured ECG signals were statistically analyzed to determine significant differences in measures of heart rate, PR interval duration, P wave duration, and QRS interval duration between the WPS and PA exposure groups. The results showed that the WPS exposure group presented a very significantly greater decrease in heart rate during Weeks 1 through 4 {t-test, p-value = 1.40×10~(-2)) and Weeks 5 through 8 (t-test, p-value = 1.86×10~(-4)) relative to controls. The results also showed that the WPS exposure group presented a clearly, stronger increase in PR interval duration during Weeks 1 through 4 (t-test, p-value = 9.08×10~(-2)) and a very significantly greater increase in PR interval duration during Weeks 5 through 8 (t-test, p-value = 4.47×10~(-3)) relative to controls. These findings suggest that WPS may impair electrical signaling in the heart in a localized manner by lengthening the signaling delay at the AV node. Therefore, these findings emphasize the need of future studies to further determine the cardiovascular effects of WPS and to help form effective regulations on WPS products and establishments.