A Prospective Analysis of the Association of Smoking with Cardiometabolic Risk

Background This study aimed to explore the possible effects of cigarette smoking on the cardiometabolic risk of apparently healthy Saudi individuals in Jeddah City. Methods A blood sample was withdrawn from each participant (100 smokers [60 males and 40 females] and 60 nonsmokers [36 males and 24 females]) for the assessment of their cardiometabolic functions (lipid profile, von Willebrand factor (vWF), Troponin I) and liver function tests using an automated enzymatic method. Results Among participant smokers, 80% smoked one pack daily, while 20% smoked more than one pack daily. Smokers had significantly higher vWF functional activity and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (p < 0.001 for both), but significantly lower albumin and total bilirubin levels than nonsmokers (p = 0.026, and p < 0.001, respectively). The number of daily cigarettes consumed correlated positively and significantly with plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.225, p = 0.004), non-HDL cholesterol (r = 0.220, p = 0.005), vWF function activity (r = 410, p < 0.001), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (r = 0.686, p < 0.001), but negatively correlated with total bilirubin (r=-0.459, p < 0.001). Moreover, heavy smokers had a significantly higher BMI (p = 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio among male smokers compared to control non- smokers (p = 0.003). Thus, Conclusions Cigarette smoking is associated with increased dyslipidemia, body mass index, and central obesity, in addition to higher vWF functional activity. Increased hs-cTnI levels in smokers, indicating a higher susceptibility to heart failure and cardiovascular mortality among smokers.