The association between cigarette smoking and inflammation: The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) study

Abstract

To inform the study and regulation of emerging tobacco products, we sought to identify sensitive biomarkers of tobacco-induced subclinical cardiovascular damage by testing the cross-sectional associations of smoking with 17 biomarkers of inflammation in 2,702 GENOA study participants belonging to sibships ascertained on the basis of hypertension. Cigarette smoking was assessed by status, intensity (number of cigarettes per day), burden (pack-years of smoking), and time since quitting. We modeled biomarkers as geometric mean (GM) ratios using generalized estimating equations (GEE). The mean age of participants was 61 ±10 years; 64.5% were women and 54.4% African American. The prevalence of smoking was 12.2%. After adjusting for potential confounders, 6 of 17 biomarkers were significantly higher among current smokers at a Bonferroni adjusted p-value threshold (p<0.003). High sensitivity C-reactive protein was the most elevated biomarker among current smokers when compared to never smokers [GM ratio = 1.39 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.57); p <0.001]. Among former smokers, each pack-year of cigarettes smoked was associated with a 0.4% higher serum level of hsCRP [GM ratio = 1.004 (95% CI: 1.001, 1.006); p = 0.002] and each 5-year lapsed since quitting was associated with a 4% lower serum level of hsCRP [GM ratio = 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.99); p = 0.006]. However, we found no significant association of smoking intensity or burden with biomarkers of inflammation among current smokers. HsCRP appears to be the most sensitive biomarker of inflammation associated with cigarette smoking of those investigated, and could be a useful biomarker of smoking-related injury for the study and regulation of emerging tobacco products.

Comorbidities in Spondyloarthritis

“…Prevalence of cigarette smoking in the general population has been recently reported to be around 15% (data from the US) ( 49 ); this prevalence appears to be increased in patients with axSpA, with reported numbers up to 30 and 40% ( 5 , 50 ). Furthermore, smoking has been associated with increased acute phase reactants [high sensitivity CRP ( 51 )], but also, in the specific case of axSpA, with increased disease activity and structural progression ( 52 – 54 ); therefore, smoking in axSpA patients would have a double role, as traditional CVRF but also increasing disability and ankylosis, which might potentially lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, another very well-known traditional CVRF.…”

Relationship of serum salusin beta levels with coronary slow flow

“…In the study of Xia et al (25), which reported an association with CRP and CSF, the rate of smoking of the CSF group was higher than the control group. It is well defined in the literature that cigarette smoking significantly increases systemic inflammation and serum CRP values (29,30). In our study, the similarity of age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia rates between the two groups made the result of our study more valuable by limiting the possible confounding factors.…”

Acute and Recovery Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Serum Interleukin-6 in Adult Male Smokers

“…Accordingly, IL-6 levels in male smokers are twice the levels in non-smokers. Some studies reported that levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and CRP, are higher in smokers than non-smokers (20,21). Acute and response measuring of IL-6 as important pro-inflammatory cytokines to exercise test in cigarette smokers was the strength of the present study.…”