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 Methods: A blood sample was withdrawn from each participant (100 smokers [60 males and 40 females] and 60 nonsmokers [36 males and 24 females]) for the assessment of their cardiometabolic functions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.