The tobacco epidemic and cardiovascular diseasesCardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide and are responsible for over 18.6 million deaths annually [1,2].Cigarette smoking affects nearly every organ in the human body and can result in the development of diseases such as cancers, pulmonary diseases, and cardiovascular diseases [3]. Tobacco is widely recognised as a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately 17% of all cardiovascular disease deaths globally [2,4].