Volume 25, Issue 110, April, 2021

Effects of smokeless tobacco on the blood pressure and pulse rate among Sudanese users: A Cohort study

Izzaddinn Elawad Ahmed^1♦, Saeed Hameed Rami²

¹Assistant professor of Internal medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1164-7152
²Assistant professor of Emergency medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Umm Alqura, Makah, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Assistant professor of Internal medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Email: akhohamdan@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) and its cardiovascular risk was not well studied among Sudanese. In this study we aim to study the changes in pulse and blood pressure among snuff users. Methods: This is a cohort (before and after) study, carried among Sudanese SLT users, with the aim of reviewing its effect on their blood pressure and pulse rate. A questionnaire, with direct interviewing was used to collect data, blood pressure and pulse rate records, initially and after one hour following the use of SLT. Results: Out of 100 participants who were all males, their age varied between 20-68, mean 34 years SD 9.36, married 58%, the dominant occupation was students 37%, drivers 21% and farmers 18%. The mean age at start snuffing, was around 16 years. Interestingly, their systolic, diastolic blood pressure and radial pulse rate has increased one hour following the insertion of their usual snuff dose. The mean difference was 11.56 with 12.07 SD for systolic blood pressure, P value (0.001), and 10.73 with 11.29 SD, for the diastolic blood pressure P value (0.001) and 2.32, with 10.20 SD, for the pulse rate P value (0.001). All participants shared the same type and way of use of the SLT. Conclusion: This study has shown highly statistically significant increase in the blood pressure and pulse rate after one hour following the use of SLT. With an early start of using SLT among different Sudanese workers.

Keywords: Smokeless tobacco, Pulse, Blood pressure, Saffa, Sudan

Medical Science, 2021, 25(110), 781-787

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