Quitting Smoking May Restore Hematological Characteristics within Five Years

Abstract

PURPOSE:To describe the cross-sectional association of counts of total and subtypes of leukocytes, platelets, and selected characteristics of red blood cells with intensity of cigarette smoking and smoking cessation. METHODS:The study population consisted of 16,254 men and women 20-70 years of age who participated in the Dutch European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC) subcohort, 1995-1997. Linear regression analysis was performed, for both sexes separately, to study the relation between various measurements of smoking habits and hematologic characteristics. RESULTS: Among current smokers, in both genders, packyears and daily number of cigarettes were associated with increased leukocytes (6-19%), lymphocytes (4-14%), monocytes (3-9%), neutrophils (7-24%), platelets (1-5%), mean corpuscular volume (0.4-2%), hematocrit (0.3-4%), hemoglobin (0.3-4%), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.8-2%). In subjects who had quitted smoking within two years before blood measurement, hematological characteristics in most cells were similar as in never smokers, whereas normal counts of lymphocytes and monocytes were observed only 2-5 years after quitting. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a marked influence of current smoking habits on leukocyte counts and, to a lesser extent, on counts of erythrocytes and platelets. Following smoking cessation, at least five years have to pass before changes in all hematological parameters may return to normal values.

Blood haemoglobin concentrations are higher in smokers and heavy alcohol consumers than in non-smokers and abstainers—should we adjust the reference range?

“…In our series, men smoking >10 cigarettes/day had a 1.4% increase in haemoglobin compared to non-smokers, whereas in women, the increase was on the average 3.5%, which is in accordance with the carboxyhaemoglobin levels of 3-6% reported in smokers [14,17]. "Normalization" of haemoglobin after smoking cessation has likewise been reported in humans [7,8].…”

“…Tsang et al [6] examined 3,654 Australian subjects 49-97 years of age and stated that smoking and alcohol influenced the reference range but did not report any specific details. In a Dutch cohort study of 16,254 subjects 20-70 years of age, Van Tiel et al [8] found higher haemoglobin in smokers than in non-smokers of both genders. Skjelbakken et al [7] examined a cohort of 4,159 Norwegian men 20-49 years of age at baseline and 20 years later.…”

“…smokers displayed higher levels than non-smokers. Search of the literature disclosed several papers reporting an association between smoking and haemoglobin [2,3,[6][7][8], although the studies were not specifically designed to evaluate this topic. The widespread and variable habit of smoking makes it a potential confounder in the establishment of normal reference ranges for haemoglobin.…”

Smoking Cessation Program with Exercise Improves Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers in Sedentary Women

“…7, 48 We did not find strong evidence to support this among any of our biomarkers. It may be that our follow-up period was not long enough to detect these changes, as some of them were observed at 6 months postcessation.…”

Cigarette smoking increases the mean platelet volume in elderly patients with risk factors for mi

“…A cigarette smoke contains over 4000 chemicals [2] and a cigarette smoker is exposed to harmful substances including nicotine, free radicals, carbon monoxide, and other gaseous products [3]. It is well known that smokers have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, inflammation, stroke, clotting disorder, and respiratory disease [4][5][6][7][8].…”