Background and Aim: Smoking stimulates adrenergic depletion in circulation and, theoretically, it can increase incidence and prevalence of cardiac conduction defects. In this study we wanted to know if smoking affected cardiac conduction defects in patients with acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI).
Materials and Methods: In this cross- sectional study, 40 smokers and 40 non – smokers with acute inferior MI who were admitted in the department of cardiology of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad were studied for cardiac conduction defects by randomized sampling method. Data gathering was through observation and interview. The obtained data was analyzed employing statistical chi-square test with P≤0.05 as the significant level.
Results: In this study rate of AV conduction defects in the inferior MI was 27.5% and 17.5% for smokers and non- smokers respectively. These values regarding bundle branch blocks were 15% and 12.5% in smoker and non-smoker groups, respectively. The differences in the above mentioned values were not significant statistically.
Conclusion: Probably smoking does not have any effect on the prevalence of cardiac conduction defects in acute inferior MI; however, more extensive studies are warranted.