Cigarette smoking exacerbates health problems in young men

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examines the hypothesis that smoking exacerbates health problems in young male smokers (age range, 18.6-22.8 yr; mean, 19.4 yr). METHODS: 1169 subjects were recruited, 25.41 % were smokers (2-15 cigarettes daily). All subjects were examined for body mass index, blood pressure, exhaled carbon monoxide content (carboxyl hemoglobin), blood hematology and biochemistry. RESULTS: Data for WBC (P < 0.001), hemoglobin (P=0.001), hematocrit (P=0.004), MCV (P=0.001), MCH (P=0.003), COHB% (P < 0.001), albumin/globulin (P < 0.001) and triglyceride (P < 0.001) were higher for smokers than non-smokers, while total-bilirubin (P < 0.001), total protein (P < 0.001) and globulin (P < 0.001) were markedly lower. The results of WBC (r=0.164, P < 0.004), COHB% (r=0.958, P < 0.001), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (r=0.159, P=0.006), alkaline-phosphatase (r=-0.154, P=0.008) and triglyceride (r=0.144, P < 0.001) were closely correlated with number of cigarettes smoked daily. Investigation of associations with illness revealed that young smokers had an increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia to young non-smokers (adjusted ORs, 2.124; 95% CIs, 1.414-3.190), hyperglycemia (adjusted ORs, 1.980; 95% CIs, 0.803-4.901), neutrophilia (adjusted ORs, 1.947; 95% CIs, 1.248-3.037), RBC macrocytosis (adjusted ORs, 1.929; 95% CIs, 1.137-3.275), hyperchromia (adjusted ORs, 1.844; 95% CIs, 1.412-2.407) and polycythemia (adjusted ORs, 1.314; 95% CIs, 0.805-2.145) (all P < 0.05 for linear trends). CONCLUSION: The findings emphasize the importance of increasing surveillance of diseases exacerbated by smoking and reducing smoking in the young to prevent cardiovascular illnesses, metabolite disorders and other clinical diseases.