Comparison of tobacco index versus smoking status in the prevalence of elevated blood pressure levels

Introduction Smoking is a well-established risk factor for hypertension (HTN) and high blood pressure (HBP); however, there are controversies regarding whether it is merely the act of smoking that increases the risk of HTN or if it is the quantity of tobacco consumed that influences it. Objective To determine the relationship between different smoking statuses and the tobacco index (GTI) with the presence of HBP and HTN in the Peruvian population. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study based on data obtained from Peru’s Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) from 2014-2022. The primary variable in this study is blood pressure level, which was classified into normotension, HBP, and HTN. Smoking status was categorized into smoker status (never, ex, current, daily smoker), daily smoker (yes versus no), and the GTI. Results Overall, daily smokers showed a higher prevalence of HTN, while those with a TI ≥ 20 showed a higher prevalence of both HBP and HTN. Significant discrepancies were observed regarding sex and the presence of these diseases, although GTI remained a consistent associated factor. Conclusions The tobacco index is highlighted as a more reliable indicator of the risk associated with smoking compared to simply categorizing individuals as smokers or non-smokers. This index, which quantifies both the frequency and duration of smoking habits, has proven to be a robust factor in the prevalence of these pathologies.