Fibrinogen levels in hypercholesterolemic smokers and non-smokers in relation to age and gender

Abstract

Elevated total cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen levels and smoking are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, whose inter-relationships are influenced by both gender and age. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of smoking on fibrinogen levels in a hypercholesterolemic population subdivided on the basis of gender and age. The study included 492 hypercholesterolemic subjects, divided into four subpopulations: men and women, aged 26-49 and 50-66 years. Mean fibrinogen levels among smokers and non-smokers in the four subpopulations of this hypercholesterolemic cohort followed mean total cholesterol levels. Three subpopulations (men <50 years, men >/=50 years and women >/=50 years) showed differences in mean total cholesterol and fibrinogen values between smokers and non-smokers (total cholesterol 7.23+/-0.54 vs. 7.40+/-0.93 mmol/l and fibrinogen 2.79+/-0.48 vs. 3.23+/-0.72 g/l in men <50 years; total cholesterol 7.17+/-0.43 vs. 7.50+/-0.60 mmol/l and fibrinogen 3.11+/-0.44 vs. 3.68+/-0.66 g/l in men >/=50 years and 7.41+/-0.59 vs. 7.65+/-0.73 mmol/l and fibrinogen 3.29+/-0.61 vs. 3.58+/-0.71 g/l in women >/=50 years). These values correspond to a percentage difference between smokers and nonsmokers in total cholesterol and fibrinogen of 2.4% and 15.8% in men <50 years, 4.6% and 18.3% in men >/=50 years and 3.2% and 8.8% in women >/=50 years. All differences were significant ( P<0.05), except for total cholesterol in the younger men (<50 years). No differences between smokers and non-smokers were observed in the younger female group (<50 years). Except in the younger female group (<50 years), significant differences between smokers and non-smokers were also observed in the number of subjects exceeding the upper reference value of fibrinogen (>4.0 g/l), the highest percentage being found for the older women smokers (>/=50 years) (29%). In Conclusion, smoking elevates fibrinogen levels in hypercholesterolemic men (<50 years; >/=50 years) and older women (>/=50 years), but not in younger women (<50 years).

Avaliação da agregação plaquetária e dosagem do fibrinogênio em pacientes com doenças cardiovasculares e sua correlação com o uso de aspirina e fatores de risco coronariano

“…Serum fibrinogen concentrations increase parallel to age which is the main determinant [11,12]. Smoking on the other hand, is the second most important factor associated with fibrinogen [12,13], with more marked alterations in women [13]. Possible explanations for this are related to the inflammatory reaction, endothelial injury, reduced fibrinolysis and platelet activity induced by smoking [14].…”

<![CDATA[<B>Evaluation of platelet aggregation and level of fibrinogen in patients with cardiovascular diseases and the correlation of taking aspirin with coronary risk factors</B>]]>

“…Smoking on the other hand, is the second most important factor associated with fibrinogen [12,13], with more marked alterations in women [13]. Possible explanations for this are related to the inflammatory reaction, endothelial injury, reduced fibrinolysis and platelet activity induced by smoking [14].…”

Tobacco smoking vs. lipid profile and anthropometric measures: A cross- sectional study among students in the Riyadh College of Health Sciences

“…Smoking and hypercholesterolemia lead to endothelial dysfunction, which is an early stage of atherogenesis (Witztum and Steinberg, 1991) Smoking elevates plasma fibrinogen levels among hypercholesterolemic men and women (Schuitemaker et al, 2004). Recent data showed that the coexistence of smoking and hypercholesterolemia increase serum levels of inflammatory markers (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1997).…”