High blood viscosity is closely associated with cigarette smoking and markedly reduced by smoking cessation.
BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. To date, a useful and convenient method of predicting such events in smokers has not been established. The rheological properties of blood assessed by the microchannel method reflect the blood's viscosity and the state of microthrombus formation, which may predict cardiovascular thrombotic events.


RESULTS
Blood fluidity was assessed in 74 smoking patients (54 men, 20 women, mean age 57.9 years) by measuring the blood passage time (BPT) in an aliquot (100 µl) of blood using the Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer. BPT was significantly related with smoking variables such as daily consumption of tobacco (r = 0.236, P = 0.044), Brinkman's index (r = 0.252, P = 0.033), the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (r = 0.257, P = 0.029), and the score of a self-rating depression scale (r = 0.236, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that an independent BPT determinant was daily consumption of tobacco (r = 0.326, P = 0.045). Furthermore, smoking cessation markedly decreased BPT from 63.0 s to 49.7 s (P = 0.002) at 3 months after the start of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Unfavorable blood rheology is closely associated with cigarette smoking and may reflect increased cardiovascular risk in smokers. The study results also suggest that such risk can be reduced after only 3 months of smoking cessation.
Clinical Research Institute, Kyoto Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto, Japan.
Sayaka
S
Shimada
Koji
K
Hasegawa
Hiromichi
H
Wada
Sachiko
S
Terashima
Noriko
N
Satoh-Asahara
Hajime
H
Yamakage
Shuji
S
Kitaoka
Masaharu
M
Akao
Akira
A
Shimatsu
Yuko
Y
Takahashi
D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors