Cross-Sectional Comparative Study Of Nerve Conduction Amplitude In Median Nerve In Smokers

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking tobacco can lead to delay in impulse conduction of nerves. Nerve conduction amplitude is a vital parameter in nerve conduction study. The present study was undertaken to assess median nerve conduction amplitude in male smokers

Objectives: To study median nerve conduction amplitude in healthy male smokers and comparing it with age, BMI matched non-smokers.

Material and Methods: Study was carried out in 120 subjects belonging to age group 25-45 years. Sensory and motor nerve conduction amplitude was tested in median nerve by standard method in healthy male smokers, who were subdivided according to smoking index into mild, moderate and heavy smokers group (30 subjects/group). Control group had 30 age & BMI matched non-smokers. Mean value of median nerve conduction amplitude of different groups was compared statistically by one way Anova test and Bonferroni’s test.

Results: The difference in mean values of nerve conduction amplitude in median sensory nerve of smokers was statistically significant among all the compared groups. The difference in mean values of nerve conduction amplitude in median motor nerve was statistically non-significant among all the compared groups.

A significant negative correlation was observed between smoking index and median sensory nerve conduction amplitude. A non-significant correlation was observed between smoking index and median motor nerve conduction amplitude.

Conclusion: Smoking decreases nerve conduction amplitude in median sensory nerve. On the other hand, with same tobacco smoking exposure, it does not significantly affect median motor nerve conduction amplitude in apparently healthy smokers.