An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Effects of Smoking on Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Resistivity Index Among Current Smokers

Objective: The aim was to assess the structural and hemodynamic effects of smoking on the common carotid arteries (CCAs) in current smokers from Himachal Pradesh. In addition, it was important to determine any association between smoking duration, frequency, pack-years, and the occurrence of common carotid atherosclerosis. Materials and Methods: The study evaluated 50 current smokers for common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), plaque presence, and resistive index (RI) with sonography. The findings were compared with 50 healthy control patients, who had never smoked. Results: A positive association was observed between smoking and an increase in CIMT ( P = .001) and occurrence of plaques ( P = .007), with substantially higher mean CIMT values in smokers above 45 years ( P < .05) in both genders ( P < .05). No difference in overall RI was seen in both groups taken as a whole, while higher RI values ( P < .05) were noticed in smokers exclusively above 60 years. A positive association was noted between smoking frequency, pack-years, and an increase in CIMT, RI, and occurrence of plaques. For every unit increase in the number of pack-years and smoking duration, there was a 0.01 unit increase in CIMT among the current smokers. Conclusion: This research provides evidence that smoking has a structural impact on CIMT while its hemodynamic effect is still unclear.