Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research
Prevalence rate of Metabolic Syndrome in a group of light and heavy smokers
Published in: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome | Issue 1/2013
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Background
Smoking is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It iswidely accepted as a major risk factor for metabolic and cardiovasculardisease. Smoking reduces insulin sensitivity or induces insulin resistanceand enhances cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated plasmatriglycerides, decreases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and causeshyperglycemia. Several studies show that smoking is associated withmetabolic abnormalities and increases the risk of Metabolic Syndrome. Theaim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndromein a group of light and heavy smokers, wishing to give up smoking.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study all the enrolled subjects voluntary joined thesmoking cessation program held by the Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit ofSan Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Northern Italy.
All the subjects enrolled were former smokers from at least 10 years and hadno cancer or psychiatric disorders, nor history of diabetes or CVD orcoronary artery disease and were not on any medication.
Results
The subjects smoke 32.3 ± 16.5 mean Pack Years. Theprevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 52.1%: 57.3% and 44.9% for males andfemales respectively. Analysing the smoking habit influence on the IDFcriteria for the metabolic syndrome diagnosis we found that all thevariables show an increasing trend from light to heavy smokers, except forHDL cholesterol. A statistical significant correlation among Pack Years andwaist circumference (R = 0.48, p < 0.0001),Systolic Blood Pressure (R = 0.18, p < 0.05),fasting plasma glucose (R = 0.19, p < 0.005) andHDL cholesterol (R = −0.26, p = 0.0005) hasbeen observed.
Conclusions
Currently smoking subjects are at high risk of developing the metabolicsyndrome.
Therapeutic lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation are a desirablePublic health goal and should successfully be implemented in clinicalpractice at any age.