What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether cumulative cigarette smoking independently predicts carotid artery plaque thickness after controlling for age, hypertension, and diabetes.

May 1, 1992StrokeOpen Access

Amount of smoking independently predicts carotid artery atherosclerosis severity.

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Why the study?

Does the level of cigarette use independently predict carotid artery plaque thickness in patients with a history of smoking?

Population

790 patients with a history of smoking referred for diagnostic ultrasound imaging of the carotid arteries…

Design

Cross-sectional

Authors

RDRobert J. DempseyUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison RMRobert W. MooreUniversity of Oklahoma

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

May inform carotid risk stratification in smokers; leaves open whether pack-year reduction alters plaque progression in prospective studies.

Key Points

To determine whether cumulative cigarette smoking independently predicts carotid artery plaque thickness after controlling for age, hypertension, and diabetes.
Assessed a continuous sample of N=790 patients with a smoking history referred for diagnostic carotid ultrasound (mean age 61 years, average 51 pack-years, 44% with hypertension, 18% with diabetes).
Calculated mean maximum carotid artery plaque thickness (averaging right and left sides) and performed bivariate and multiple regression analyses adjusting for age, hypertension, and diabetes.
The average maximum carotid artery plaque thickness across all 790 subjects was 1.9 mm.
In multiple regression analysis, pack-years (p = 0.0005), age (p < 0.0001), and history of hypertension (p = 0.0044) were significant independent predictors of plaque thickness, whereas history of diabetes was not (p = 0.2451).

Structured PICO

Does the level of cigarette use independently predict carotid artery plaque thickness in patients with a history of smoking?

Population

790 patients with a history of smoking referred for diagnostic ultrasound imaging of the carotid arteries, mean age 61 years, average 51 pack-years.

Intervention

Level of cigarette use (pack-years)

Outcome

Carotid artery plaque thickness (average of right and left maximum)surrogate

The amount of smoking (pack-years) is an independent predictor of carotid artery atherosclerosis severity, reinforcing the importance of smoking cessation for stroke prevention.

Cite This Study

Dempsey et al. (1992) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a712bb7e5469ee92be1c66f https://doi.org/10.1161/01.str.23.5.693

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Implication

May inform carotid risk stratification in smokers; leaves open whether pack-year reduction alters plaque progression in prospective studies.

Amount of smoking independently predicts carotid artery atherosclerosis severity.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Amount of smoking independently predicts carotid artery atherosclerosis severity.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider