Copyright © 2003 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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Independent association of various smoking characteristics with markers of systemic inflammation in men
Results from a representative sample of the general population (MONICA Augsburg Survey 1994/95)
a Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
b Department of Internal Medicine VI-Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacoepidemiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
c GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, IGM-Institute, Neuherberg, Germany
d GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany
* Correspondence to: Prof. Wolfgang Koenig, Abteilung Innere Medizin II, Universität Ulm, Rbert-Koch-Straße 8, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. Tel. +49 731 500 24441; fax. +49 731 500 33872
E-mail address: wolfgang.koenig{at}medizin.uni-ulm.de
Received 16 October 2002; revised 15 April 2003; accepted 18 April 2003
Aims Aim of the study was to investigate the association between various markers of systemic inflammation and a detailed history of smoking in a large representative sample of the general population.
Methods and results The effects of chronic smoking on white blood cell (WBC) count, fibrinogen, albumin, plasma viscosity (PV), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 2305 men and 2211 women, age 25–74 years, participating in the third MONICA Augsburg survey 1994/95. In men, current smokers showed statistically significantly higher values for WBC count, fibrinogen, PV, and CRP, compared to never smokers, with intermediate, but only slightly increased values for ex-smokers and for occasional smokers. No consistent associations were seen with albumin. Duration of smoking was positively associated with markers of inflammation as were pack-years of smoking. Conversely, duration of abstinence from smoking was inversely related to these markers. Except for WBC count, no such associations were found in women.
Conclusion Data from this large representative population show strong associations between smoking and various markers of systemic inflammation in men. They also show that cessation of smoking is associated with a decreased inflammatory response, which may represent one mechanism responsible for the reduced cardiovascular risk in these subjects.
Key Words: Smoking • Inflammation • C-reactive protein • Fibrinogen • Plasma viscosity • White blood cell count
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