Tobacco –– Smoking  –– Atherosclerosis and Carotid Ultrasound

Dr Anand Kamat; Dr Prashant Naik; Dr Sharda Bapat

Volume : V, Issue : XII, December - 2015

Tobacco –– Smoking –– Atherosclerosis and Carotid Ultrasound

Dr Anand Kamat, Dr Prashant Naik, Dr Sharda Bapat

Abstract :

Background :– Previous studies have indicated an association between Cigarette smoking and increased risk of atherosclerotic disease in adults with or without clinical cardiovascular (IHD) and cereovascular disease(CVE, stroke). Previous studies have also shown that Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) reliably gives a fair idea of presence or absence of atherosclerosis in carotid artery itself and coronary arteries and cereal arteries and arteries elsewhere in the body. Higher CIMT means more atherosclerotic burden in the body. Aim:– The aim of this study is to describe the mean values of CIMT in all those subjects who are cigarette smokers or use tobacco in different forms and compare them in subjects who were non smokers or did not use tobacco in any form. Results: –Mean CIMT was significantly higher (0.8727mm +– 0.22981mm) in those subjects who were cigarette smokers or used tobacco in different forms than in those subjects who were non– smokers or did not use tobacco in any form ( 0.7896mm +– 0.21539mm; p value 0.002). Conclusion:– The data of present study of local Indian population of low income group in and around Pune confirms the findings of previous studies in general population. Hence it has been found in the present study that CIMT values in subjects who are smokers or use tobacco in different forms in local Indian population of low income group are significantly higher ( p value 0.002) than those who were nonsmokers or not using tobacco in any form in the same income group after adjusting for other risk factors for atherosclerosis like DM, HTN and for increasing age.