title: Independent association of various smoking characteristics with markers of systemic inflammation in men. Results from a representative sample of the general population (MONICA Augsburg Survey 1994/95).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of the study was to investigate the association between various markers of systemic inflammation and a detailed history of smoking in a large representative sample of the general population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of chronic smoking on white blood cell (WBC) count, fibrinogen, albumin, plasma viscosity (PV), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 2305 men and 2211 women, age 25-74 years, participating in the third MONICA Augsburg survey 1994/95. In men, current smokers showed statistically significantly higher values for WBC count, fibrinogen, PV, and CRP, compared to never smokers, with intermediate, but only slightly increased values for ex-smokers and for occasional smokers. No consistent associations were seen with albumin. Duration of smoking was positively associated with markers of inflammation as were pack-years of smoking. Conversely, duration of abstinence from smoking was inversely related to these markers. Except for WBC count, no such associations were found in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this large representative population show strong associations between smoking and various markers of systemic inflammation in men. They also show that cessation of smoking is associated with a decreased inflammatory response, which may represent one mechanism responsible for the reduced cardiovascular risk in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Malte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sund
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Löwel
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imhof
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmeister
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein