Influence of cigarette smoking on the Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance in apparently healthy Angolans

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate the status of the Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB) in subjects with habitual cigarette smoking compared to non-smokers in apparently healthy Angolans. Methods The data came from the CardioBengo study, a cross-sectional community-based study, from which a random sample of individuals aged between 15 and 84 years was selected. In total, 214 apparently healthy subjects, 102 smokers subjects and 112 non-smokers with the same age group were included in the final analysis. Results The average age of the participants was 42.17 ± 13.04 years old and 26.6% of the sample was female. Smoking subjects had higher iCEB and corrected index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEBc) values compared with non-smoking controls (4.39 vs. 4.25; p = 0.024, respectively), and (4.74 vs. 4.57; p = 0.030, respectively). Conclusion In summary the iCEB and iCEBc were significantly higher in habitually smokers compared to nonsmokers, which represents an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmogenesis in healthy habitual smokers. As far as we know, this is the first study performed in Africa evaluating the iCEB in smokers, making this this type of study very important in Low-and-middle income countries in the context of epidemiological transition.