Evaluation of blood carboxyhemoglobin levels in healthy volunteers using ETHS
Abdulhakov S.R., Khabieva N.A., Kiyasov I.A., Gaysina L.R., Oslopova Yu.V., Sultanbekova E.A., Valeeva I.Kh., Timerzyanov M.I., Fayzullin R.I., Kiyasov A.P.
Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an integral component of smoke that is harmful to the health of not only smokers but also those around them. Therefore, analyzing carboxyhemoglobin levels in the blood of smokers and nonsmokers can be considered not only as a factor reflecting hypoxia but also as a parameter for assessing potential damage to vital body functions.
Objective: Assessment of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels (% of hemoglobin saturation) in the blood of volunteers who switched to using an electronic tobacco heating system (ETHS) compared to volunteers who continued smoking conventional cigarettes (CC) and who quit smoking (SC) following short-term exposure.
Materials and methods: The study included 60 volunteers (M – 48, F –1 2) aged 21 to 65 years (mean age 32.4 years). Volunteers were randomized into three study groups [ETHS: conventional cigarettes (CC): smoking cessation (CS)] in a 2:1:1 ratio, accounting for equal representation in each group of male and female volunteers who smoked 10-19 or more conventional cigarettes per day (data on the number of conventional cigarettes smoked was obtained during screening based on the results of a questionnaire for the previous 4 weeks of smoking).
Results: The blood carboxyhemoglobin levels in volunteers in the CC group remained virtually unchanged throughout the study period, while in the ETHS groups it was statistically lower than the level at Day 0, starting from the first day (Day 1) of the study; in the SC group, a trend toward decreased carboxyhemoglobin levels was observed throughout the study. However, no differences were found at the Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5 study points compared to Day 0.
Conclusion: The results of the data analysis allow to conclude on the likelihood of harm reduction effects of the study product (ETHS) when used during the study period (5 days) based on the volunteer examination methods used, including a complete blood count, urinalysis, blood chemistry, ECG, spirometry, and the results of an objective examination assessing anthropometric parameters (height, weight, BMI) and vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature), and the absence of reported adverse events/severe adverse events.
For citations: Abdulhakov S.R., Khabieva N.A., Kiyasov I.A., Gaysina L.R., Oslopova Yu.V., Sultanbekova E.A., Valeeva I.Kh., Timerzyanov M.I., Fayzullin R.I., Kiyasov A.P. Evaluation of blood carboxyhemoglobin levels in healthy volunteers using ETHS. Pharmateca. 2025;32(9):175-184. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.9.175-184
Authors’ contribution: All authors participated equally in the preparation of the publication: development of the article concept, obtaining and analyzing factual data, writing and editing the article text, checking and approving the article text.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted without any sponsorship.
Ethical Approval: The scientific research protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (minutes of meeting No. 4 dated 09.09.2016).
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data.
Authors’ Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
Keywords
nicotine addiction
tobacco heating systems (THS)
harm reduction
carboxyhemoglobin
About the Authors
S.R. Abdulhakov, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology; Gastroenterologist, University Clinic, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia; sayarabdul@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9542-3580 (corresponding author)N.A. Khabieva, Head of the Department of Forensic Chemical and Chemical-Toxicological Examination, Republican Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia
I.A. Kiyasov, Deputy Chief Physician for Development, Quality, and Digital Medicine, Medical and Sanitary Unit, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia; ivan_kiyasov@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4947-881X
L.R. Gaysina, Associate Professor, Cand. Sci.(Med.), Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Higher School of Medicine, Center for Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Internal Medicine (internal part-timer), Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
Yu.V. Oslopova, Associate Professor, Cand. Sci.(Med.), Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Higher School of Medicine, Center for Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Internal Medicine (internal part-timer), Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
E.A. Sultanbekova, Biologist, Medical and Sanitary Unit, First Deputy Chief Physician for Medical Work, Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory No. 3 (Bacteriology), Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
I.Kh. Valeeva, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
M.I. Timerzyanov, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Center for Postgraduate Education, Department of Preventive Medicine (external part-timer), Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; Republican Bureau of Forensic Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia
R.I. Fayzullin, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
A.P. Kiyasov, Professor, Director of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Full Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia; kiassov@mail.ru
