ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Smoking has been reported to increase systemic inflammation. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are used as markers for systemic inflammation. In this study, the primary aim was to determine the NLR and PLR ratios in smokers. Secondly, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of addiction and carbon monoxide (CO) level in the expiratory air, with these ratios. METHODS: This study was designed as a single-center, cross-sectional study. It was conducted with chronic smokers aged 18-40 years, without known health problems, visiting the smoking cessation outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. Sociodemographic data and smoking characteristics were collected, and exhaled CO levels were measured. Complete blood count (CBC) results were recorded, including NLR and PLR. RESULTS: The mean age of 247 patients was 31.2±6.1 years, with the majority of patients (68.4%) being male. While the mean value of CO was 11.6±5.6 ppm, 42.1% of cases had a high level of addiction. A statistically significant relationship was found between NLR and addiction levels, the CO level, and the amount of smoking in cigarettes/day and packs/year (all p=0.000). A statistically significant relationship was also found between PLR and addiction levels, CO level, cigarettes/day and packs/year (p=0.000, p=0.03, p=0.000, p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found that as the level of addiction, cigarette use, and exhaled CO levels increased in smokers, NLR and PLR increased. Our data revealed that NLR and PLR may be a simple and easily assessable proxy of systemic inflammation in smokers.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Smoking increases the risk of arrhythmia. QT dispersion (QTd) is an important indicator for the determination of ventricular arrhythmia. In this study, we aimed to determine the arrhythmia risk by evaluating QTd in smokers and to assess the relationship between the level of nicotine addiction and carbon monoxide (CO) level in the expiratory air. METHODS: This study was designed as a single-center, cross-sectional study. Among the chronic smokers referred to the Smoking Cessation Clinic of a tertiary hospital between October 2019 and January 2020, all those who had no risk factors for cardiac arrhythmias, except smoking, were included in the study. Sociodemographic data and smoking characteristics of the participants were collected and exhaled CO levels were measured. QT intervals were measured in all leads by using a 12-lead standard electrocardiogram (ECG), and heart rate corrected QT (QTc) intervals, QT dispersion (QTd), and corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age of the 250 patients was 37.2±9.3 years and the majority of patients (65%) were male. The mean amount of smoking was 25.74±16.03 packs/year and the mean value of CO was 12.36±7.06 ppm. The mean QTd was 23.83±13.12 ms, and the mean QTcd was 26.63±15.02 ms. A statistically significant relationship was found between QTd and QTcd and level of addiction, consumption of sticks/day and packs/year, and exhaled CO values (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that as the level of addiction, cigarette use amount, exhaled CO levels, and BMI increased in smokers, QT dispersion and arrhythmia risk increased.
