A Comparative Study of Lipid Profile in Apparently Healthy Smokers and Non-Smokers.

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking is considered as the single most important risk factor for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, mainly through its effect on accelerating atherosclerosis. It has also been observed that smoking causes increased serum cholesterol, triglyceride and beta lipoprotein levels and alpha lipoproteins. Objective: To compare the lipid profile among smokers and nonsmokers. Method: In this study the lipid profiles of apparently healthy non-smokers in the age group 20-55 was compared with that of smokers with relation to dose response and duration response relationship. Result: It was observed that the mean value of all lipids were significantly higher in smokers as compared to nonsmokers. Analysis of the data with regards to the duration of smoking also showed statistically significant increase in the mean levels of serum lipids with increase in the duration of smoking. There was also significant fall in the mean values of serum HDL in all groups of smokers in a dose response sequence when compared to that in non- smokers. However the fall was not clinically significant. Mean HDL in heavy smokers 31.40± 6.67 as compared to 48.47 ±6. 88 in nonsmokers. P value was <0.001. When the same characteristics were analyzed with regards to the duration of smoking again a statistically significant rise in LDL, VLDL cholesterol & a statistically significant fall in HDL cholesterol were observed when compared to that of non-smokers. Conclusion: The smokers are definitely exposed to the risk of high lipid levels and hence to the risk of cardiovascular diseases,