2024-04-12 04:22:55
Smoking is considered the greatest preventable health risk. But when consumed not only actively, but also passively, the smoke can have devastating consequences.
About a third of German citizens smoke. The number of passive smokers – those who do not smoke themselves but still inhale the fumes – is difficult to estimate. Children in smoking households are often affected, but adults are also affected in their private and professional lives.
The number of deaths caused by passive smoking in Germany is estimated at around 3,3000 per year. Basically, all of the diseases that cigarette smoke can cause in smokers can also affect passive smokers, including lung cancer, strokes and cardiovascular diseases.
A new study presented at a congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) examined the connection between passive smoking and cardiac arrhythmias. Specifically, it’s atrial fibrillation.
Good to know
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. It is estimated that one in three Europeans will develop it in their lifetime. People with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke than their healthy peers.
The analysis included over 400,000 adults between the ages of 40 and 69 who used the UK’s National Health Service (the UK’s public health system) for any reason. The average age was 56.5 years. People who smoked at the start of the study or who already suffered from atrial fibrillation were excluded. Of the participants, 55.2 percent were women.
Even two hours a week have consequences
The researchers used a questionnaire to determine how many hours people were exposed to other people’s smoke in a typical week at home or in other environments. 21 percent of participants (approx. 85,000) were passive smokers at least some of the time last year. On average, they inhaled other people’s smoke for 2.2 hours. The scientists divided them into the “exposed group.” Those who had no contact with secondhand smoke were therefore included in the “unexposed group”.
The longer the duration, the more harmful
The researchers also took into account factors that influence the connection between passive smoking and atrial fibrillation, such as age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood lipid levels.
After adjusting these variables, it was found that over a follow-up period of 12.5 years, there was a 6 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation in the exposed group. And she was able to determine something else: the risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases depending on the dose.
For example, 7.8 hours of passive smoking per week was associated with an 11 percent higher likelihood of a heart arrhythmia compared to not smoking. The risk of atrial fibrillation for passive smokers was increased in homes, at work and also outdoors.
Secondhand smoke is also harmful outdoors
Study author Dr. Kyung-Yeon Lee from Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea: “According to our study, exposure to secondhand smoke increases the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation, with the risk increasing significantly as exposure duration increases.” The finding that passive smoking is harmful not only indoors but also outdoors underlines the importance of smoking bans to protect public health.
He makes a recommendation to those responsible for the public good: “The results should also prompt policymakers to further curb smoking in public areas and support smoking cessation programs to improve public health.”