Key result
Total years of cigarette smoking was the strongest predictor of severe carotid atherosclerosis, with 40-year smokers having approximately 3.5 times the risk of never smokers by age 60.
Why the study?
Does the duration of cigarette smoking predict severe extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients undergoing carotid arteriography?
Population
752 consecutive patients undergoing carotid arteriography in whom at least one extracranial carotid artery…
Comparison
Cigarette smoking (total years of smoking) vs Never smokers
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
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Supports early cessation to limit exposure years; hypothesis-generating for duration effects in observational cohorts.
Observational (n=752)
Does the duration of cigarette smoking predict severe extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis in patients undergoing carotid arteriography?
Effect estimate: RR 3.5
Total years of cigarette smoking is the strongest independent predictor of severe extracranial carotid atherosclerosis, emphasizing that the major benefit of smoking cessation is limiting the accumulation of smoking years.
Whisnant et al. (1990) conducted an observational in Extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis (n=752). Cigarette smoking vs. Never smoker was evaluated on Presence of severe carotid atherosclerosis (RR 3.5). Total years of cigarette smoking was the strongest predictor of severe carotid atherosclerosis, with 40-year smokers having approximately 3.5 times the risk of never smokers by age 60.
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