Acute post cessation smoking. A strong predictive factor for metabolic syndrome among adult Saudis.
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.
Al-Daghri
Nasser M
NM
Department of Biochemistry, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aldaghri2000@hotmail.com
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