The metabolic syndrome as a link between smoking and cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
Smoking is associated with a significant increase in the cardiovascular risk. The possible relationship of smoking with insulin resistance might further enhance the cardiovascular risk of the patients and is therefore of great clinical interest.


METHODS
We have retrospectively evaluated data of 3804 non-diabetic men attending a medical outdoor clinic. Clinical [body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, waist-to-hip ratio] and laboratory results were compared between smokers (n = 124) and non-smokers (n = 1915) without cardiovascular disease, as well as between smokers (n = 759) and non-smokers (n = 1006) with cardiovascular disease.


RESULTS
Smokers without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease revealed significantly higher fasting glucose (5.8 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) and triglyceride levels (1.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/l) than non-smokers (fasting glucose: 5.1 +/- 0.7 mmol/l, p < 0.010; triglycerides: 1.5 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, p < 0.030). The adverse metabolic profile of smokers was even more pronounced in patients with cardiovascular disease. An age-matched analysis of smokers could demonstrate that cardiovascular patients revealed higher BMI values (27.3 +/- 2.4 kg/m2) and a higher percentage of body fat (25.5 +/- 5.5%) than those without cardiovascular disease (BMI: 25.7 +/- 2.2 kg/m2, p < 0.010; percentage of body fat: 23.0 +/- 5.5%, p < 0.030).


CONCLUSIONS
In men with and without clinically manifest cardiovascular disease, smoking was associated with a metabolic profile indicating a higher degree of insulin resistance.
Dzien
A
A
Medical Center Hentschelhof, Buergerstrasse, Innsbruck, Austria.
Dzien-Bischinger
C
C
Hoppichler
F
F
Lechleitner
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides