Late Breaking Abstract - Brief use of heated tobacco products causes increased arterial stiffness and thrombotic activity

Background and aims: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are novel tobacco products, promoted as healthier alternatives to combustible cigarettes despite unknown health effects. To evaluate the impact of HTP use on vascular health we investigated effects of brief HTP use on arterial stiffness and haemostasis in healthy volunteers. Methods: In a randomised crossover fashion 23 healthy young occasional tobacco users were either exposed to the HTP IQOS 3 Multi (Phillip Morris Int., 28 puffs) or no HTP with a wash-out period of one week. Arterial stiffness was assessed through pulse wave velocity and pulse wave analysis. Blood samples were collected and analysed with the Total-Thrombus-formation analysis system evaluating platelet thrombus formation and fibrin-rich thrombus formation. Results: Brief IQOS use caused an immediate significant increase in arterial stiffness in terms of heightened pulse wave velocity (p=0.001) and pulse wave analysis (p=0.001) as compared to no exposure. These effects had normalised 60 minutes after exposure. Platelet-thrombus formation was significantly increased (p<0.001) 15 minutes following IQOS exposure compared to no exposure. Conclusions: Brief IQOS use have immediate adverse effects on arterial stiffness and thrombotic activity of platelets in healthy volunteers.