title: Acute post cessation smoking. A strong predictive factor for metabolic syndrome among adult Saudis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of tobacco exposure in the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the adult Saudi population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and sixty-four adults (305 males and 359 females) aged 25-70 years were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at the King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, between June 2006 and May 2007. We classified the participants into non-smokers, smokers, and ex-smokers (defined as complete cessation for 1-2 years). All subjects were screened for the presence of MS using the modified American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) definitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic syndrome was highest among ex-smokers regardless of definition used. Relative risk for ex-smokers (95% CI: 2.23, 1.06-4.73) was more than twice in harboring MS as compared to non-smokers (95% CI: 2.78, 1.57-4.92) (p=0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute post-cessation smoking is a strong predictor for MS among male and female Arabs. Smoking cessation programs should include a disciplined lifestyle and dietary intervention to counteract the MS-augmenting side-effect of smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aldaghri2000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nasser M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al-Daghri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016540:Smoking Cessation