Assessment of Biochemical Parameters among Smokers and Tobacco Chewers to Ascertain Cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is one of the major cause and established risk factor of premature death due to respiratory and cardiovascular illness worldwide. Risk of coronary heart disease is increased by two-to four folds in smoking and tobacco chewing. Smoking and tobacco chewing leads to change in the concentration of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and HDL. In our present study, the main objective was to assess the blood lipid profile among smokers and tobacco chewers to ascertain cardiovascular risk in Nepal.

Methods: It was a hospital based case control study carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of Institute of Medicine Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal between 1st January, 2008 and 31st December, 2009. Of the 150 subjects enrolled in this study, 50 were current smokers, 50 were tobacco chewers and 50 were normal healthy controls. The variables collected were age, gender, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL. The One way ANOVA was used to examine the statistical significant difference between groups. Post Hoc test LSD used for the comparison of means of control versus case groups. A p-value of <0.05 (two-tailed) was used to establish statistical significance.

Results: The mean values of serum total cholesterol (257.5±22.6 mg/dl), LDL (186.6±24.0 mg/dl), TG (139.4±39.8 mg/dl) were significantly higher in smokers when compared to controls. In contrast to that HDL (42.9±1.5 mg/dl) was lower when compared to controls (44.8±1.9mg/dl). The mean values for TG (141.5±34.9 mg/dl), total cholesterol (260.3 ±21.2 mg/dl), LDL (188.5±26.0 mg/dl) in tobacco chewers was significantly higher when compared to controls.

Conclusions: The lipid profiles are raised in tobacco chewers and smokers which may lead to higher incidence of cardiovascular disease.  

Medical Journal of Shree Birendra Hospital; January-June 2013/vol.12/Issue1/29-31

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/mjsbh.v12i1.9089