3. Results
Table 1 shows the clinical characteristics of the study population by smoking status and by gender. No sig-
nificant difference in any parameter existed between never smokers, current smokers, and former smokers
except lifelong smoking dose lower in former smokers than in current smokers in both sexes P B 0.05. In
women, the analysis of hormonal status showed that 49 were postmenopausal of whom 24 were receiving hor-
monal replacement therapy.
In men, carotid IMT was higher in current smokers than in never smokers P B 0.01 but no different be-
tween former smokers and never smokers and between former smokers and current smokers, while in women
carotid IMT did not differ according to the smoking status Table 2. In men, femoral IMT was higher in
current smokers P B 0.001 and in former smokers P B 0.01 than in never smokers but no different be-
tween former smokers and current smokers, while in women femoral IMT did not differ according to the
smoking status Table 2.
In the whole population of men, carotid and femoral IMT did correlate with the current number of cigarette
per day r = 0.21, r = 0.19 respectively, P B 0.01 and these correlations remained significant after age-adjust-
ment P B 0.001, P B 0.01, respectively. In the male population carotid and femoral IMT did
correlate with smoking pack-years r = 0.37, r = 0.38, respectively, P B 0.001, Fig. 1, and these correlations
remained significant after age-adjustment P B 0.001. The carotid and femoral IMTpack-years relationships
remained significant r = 0.28, r = 0.35, respectively, P B 0.001 when men who smoked more than 40 pack-
years were excluded, and their regression slopes were similar to those obtained in the entire men population.
In the whole population of women, carotid IMT did not correlate with either the current number of
cigarettes per day r = 0.04 or smoking pack-years r = 0.08, Fig. 1. In the female population, femoral
IMT did correlate with the current number of cigarettes per day r = 0.20, P B 0.01 and smoking pack-years
r = 0.18, P B 0.01, Fig. 1 and these correlations re- mained significant after age-adjustment P B 0.01. The
slopes of regression between femoral IMT and either number of cigarettes per day or smoking pack – years,
were lower in women than in men P = 0.08, P B 0.001, respectively. In postmenopausal women, carotid and
Table 1 Clinical characteristics by smoking status
a
Men Women
FS CS
NS FS
CS NS
80 61
53 n
164 114
52 Age, years
39 9 8 40 9 9
42 9 9 44 9 9
40 9 8 43 9 8
1.74 9 0.07 1.77 9 0.06
1.62 9 0.06 1.64 9 0.06
Height, m 1.62 9 0.06
1.75 9 0.07 Body mass index, kgm
2
25 9 3 24 9 3
25 9 2 23 9 4
23 9 3 23 9 4
Systolic pressure, mmHg 132 9 9
133 9 9 136 9 9
130 9 10 129 9 9
129 9 13 77 9 10
79 9 9 79 9 9
82 9 9 Diastolic pressure, mmHg
81 9 9 82 9 8
5.15 9 0.61 5.22 9 0.59
4.97 9 0.66 Total cholesterol, mmoll
4.98 9 0.80 5.14 9 0.69
4.91 9 0.82 5.40 9 0.53
5.43 9 0.64 5.57 9 0.62
Blood glucose, mmoll 5.19 9 0.51
5.09 9 0.52 5.12 9 0.60
Current smoking, cigaretteday –
16 9 11 –
– 17 9 10
– –
13 9 10 18 9 15
– Life long smoking, pack–years
10 9 10 13 9 8
a
NS, never smokers; CS, current smokers; FS, former smokers; and n, number of subjects. Values are mean 9 S.D. PB0.05 between CS and FS.
Table 2 Intima-media thickness IMT by smoking status
a
CS 2 FS 3
P value NS 1
1–2 1–3
2–3 Carotid IMT, mm
B 0.01
0.54 9 0.10 0.57 9 0.12
0.51 9 0.08 Men
NS NS
0.49 9 0.07 0.50 9 0.06
Women NS
0.49 9 0.07 NS
NS Femoral IMT, mm
0.45 9 0.08 0.52 9 0.13
0.49 9 0.09 Men
B 0.001
NS B
0.01 0.43 9 0. 08
NS 0.42 9 0.05
Women NS
NS 0.42 9 0.05
a
NS, never smokers; CS, current smokers; FS, former smokers; and n, number of subjects. Values are mean 9 S.D. NS, non significant.
Fig. 1. Relationships of carotid and femoral intima-media thickness IMT with lifelong smoking dose in the pooled populations of never smokers, current smokers and former smokers in each sex. r = correlation coefficient.
femoral IMT did not correlate with either the current number of cigarettes per day or smoking pack – years.
Analysis of association of IMT and age showed that in men carotid IMT and age were correlated in never
smokers P B 0.001, in current smokers P B 0.01, and in former smokers P B 0.01, but the slope of the
regression line was higher P B 0.05 in current smokers than in former smokers Fig. 2 and almost significantly
higher P = 0.07 in current smokers than in never smokers. In women, carotid IMT and age were corre-
lated in never smokers P B 0.001, in current smokers P B 0.001 and in former smokers P B 0.001, but the
slopes of the regression lines were not different between groups Fig. 2. In men, femoral IMT and age were
correlated in never smokers P B 0.001, in current smokers P B 0.001 and in former smokers P B 0.01,
but the slope of the regression line was higher in current smokers than in never smokers P B 0.05 Fig.
2. In women, femoral IMT and age were correlated in never smokers P B 0.001, in current smokers P B
0.05 and in former smokers P B 0.01, and the slopes of the regression lines were not different between
groups Fig. 2.
4. Discussion
Kategori