ABSTRACT Metanalysis of large-scale trials showed combined action of hypertension (H) and smoking (S) as a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and both non-fatal events and deaths. We conducted a metanalysis of small-case reports of hypertensive smokers (Blood Pressure-BP- > 140/90 mmHg) analyzing the incidence and type of cardiovascular complications. Eleven articles taken out online from Medline, Pub med and Mendeley reporting small-case observations on smoking and cardiovascular complications were analyzed. The results observed indicated that a higher incidence of cardiac and cerebrovascular events affected hypertensive current smokers, exposed chronically, with a statistical significance, while smokers acutely exposed showed transient but stable increase in systolic BP and heart rate in all studied subjects. The type of pharmacological treatment does not influence the metanalysis results. Acute exposure to smoking increased BP and heart rate, while chronic exposure showed a significantly greater number of cardiovascular complications for S+H similarly to what observed in metanalysis of large-scale trials.
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