Association of cigarette and water-pipe smoking with increased visceral adiposity, glycemic intolerance and hematological derangement in Iraqi healthy smokers

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the impacts of cigarette smoking (CS) and water-pipe smoking (WPS) on the visceral adiposity index (VAI), hematological characteristics, and glycemic tolerance in Iraqi healthy smokers. A total of 528 healthy males from different locations of Baghdad city were allocated to three groups; nonsmokers (176), cigarette smokers (178), and WP smokers (174). Baseline characteristics, anthropometric and hematological markers and were reported. Glycemic control was evaluated using the glucose tolerance test. The evidence of elevated VAI, disrupted hematological markers, and impaired glucose tolerance was significantly (P<0.001) different compared with non-smokers and related to the duration of smoking. The impacts of WPS seem to be significantly greater than CS in certain parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, methemoglobin, and 2-hour glucose tolerance values). In conclusion, CS and WPS negatively impacted body fat distribution, glucose tolerance, and hematological markers. There is a positive association between the rate of smoking and obesity, glycemic intolerance in both groups.

Relationship between tobacco smoking and hematological indices among Sudanese smokers

“…To put these results in context, we found a significant increase in Hb and RBCs just like many studies did, for instance, Nadia et al and Rawia Osman Ali studies [ 17 , 18 ] which were conducted in Sudan, a study even detailed that water pipes smokers especially demonstrated a significantly higher Hb value [ 19 ], which was in agreement with our findings. Another study [ 20 ] found that both Hb and RBC counts were significantly higher in WP smokers than in cigarette smokers.…”

“…Our results were generally consistent with the literature, the only contradiction was that our study found the HCT values to be significantly lower in cigarette smokers and no significant increase in WP smokers or both cigarette and WP smokers when compared to non-smokers, while most of those studies found a significant increase in HCT levels in smokers compared to non-smokers [ 17 – 22 ], some even demonstrated a higher increase in HCT levels among WP smokers compared to cigarette smokers [ 19 ]. More studies make it evident that there is some agreement on the effects of smoking on Hb and our data is building on this existing evidence [ 9 , 21 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…WBC count was higher in all smoker's groups and significantly in cigarette smokers, congruent with many studies in the literature [ 9 , 19 , 22 – 24 ], only one study went against this consensus and found a significant decrease in total WBC count. We found a significant increase in neutrophil count and no significant increase in lymphocyte count, this was an area for debate in the literature, and some were in line with our results [ 10 , 18 ].…”