Stenosis of Carotid Arteries and Concentration of Some Blood Lipid Parameters amongst Tobacco Smokers in Abha: A Case–Control Study

Abstract

Smoking is well known to be correlated with cardiovascular abnormalities, in particular atherosclerosis and heart diseases. This article investigates the effect and relationship of smoking tobacco on the thickness of the intima–media (IMT) belonging to the common carotid arteries (CCAs), and also blood concentration of the lipid profile (LP), mainly the total cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and also triglycerides. Nineteen male tobacco smokers and thirty-five healthy male non-smoking Saudi participants were involved in this study after obtaining their informed consent. An ultrasound and a spectrophotometer were used to determine the IMTs and lipid parameters, respectively. The thicknesses of the smokers’ right (RCA) and left carotid (LCA) arteries (0.72 and 0.7 mm, respectively) were significantly greater than the thicknesses of the arteries of the non-smokers (0.58 and 0.62 mm, respectively) (p-value = 0.005 and 0.04). Insignificant differences between the means of the other parameters in the two groups were studied. Smoking is a risk factor for stroke, because it significantly increases the IMTs of both the right and left carotid arteries.

Ultrasound Assessment of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: Comparison between Diabetes and Nondiabetes Subjects, and Correlation with Serum Vitamin D

“…Byrkjeland et al [25] have demonstrated a benefcial efect of exercise training on the progression of CIMT in patients with type 2 diabetes. Regarding the efect of smoking on CIMT, our results have shown that nonsmokers were at a 73% lower chance of having thick CIM compared to smokers, this fnding is in line with the result of Alelyani et al [26] which stated that smokers exhibit a signifcant increase in the CIMT. Te contents of cigarette smoke and the abundant free radicals in, it both contribute to direct damage to the endothelium, inducing infammation and leukocyte infltration, with subsequent development of atheroma and thrombosis [27].…”

Association of Smoking with the Blood Concentration of 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D and Testosterone at High and Low Altitudes

“…Similar to most previous studies, 1,23 this study showed that smoking is associated with significantly increased IMT of the carotid arteries, possibly as a result of speeding the atherosclerotic process. However, Babiker et al noted that there is a strong association between tobacco smoking and the formation of carotid artery plaques, but he reported that the majority of the smokers did not develop narrowing and thickening of the carotid arteries.…”

“…Several studies have reported a positive relationship between smoking and the intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries, 1 while other studies have found a strong association with carotid artery plaque and alterations in carotid hemodynamics, but absence of stenosis of the carotid arteries, in some cases of smokers. 2 One study noted that the effect of smoking on the IMT depends on the gene polymorphism of the NADPH oxidase.…”

“…[7][8][9] Previous studies showed that living at high altitude is associated with both an increase and decrease in the IMT of the carotid arteries compared to living at low altitudes. 1,10 People living at high altitude are reported to have either low or high blood levels of vitamin D. [11][12][13] It has also been reported that living at high altitude is associated with increased blood concentration of testosterone and erythrocytosis. 14 Another study concluded that adaptation to high altitude is associated with a decreased blood concentration of testosterone.…”

“…27 Two previous studies showed that altitude is associated with significant increase in the IMT of the carotid arteries. 1,28 Sukun et al 10 found that people living at high altitude had a lower rate of carotid artery stenosis and lower value of carotid artery IMT.…”