Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity

BACKGROUND: Relative risks (RR) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by smoking rate exhibit a concave pattern, with RRs in low rate smokers exceeding a linear extrapolation from higher rate smokers. However, cigarettes/day does not by itself fully characterize smoking-related risks. A reexamination of...

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Main Authors: Lubin, J., Couper, D., Lutsey, P., Woodward, M., Yatsuya, H., Huxley, Rachel
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41378
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author Lubin, J.
Couper, D.
Lutsey, P.
Woodward, M.
Yatsuya, H.
Huxley, Rachel
author_facet Lubin, J.
Couper, D.
Lutsey, P.
Woodward, M.
Yatsuya, H.
Huxley, Rachel
author_sort Lubin, J.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description BACKGROUND: Relative risks (RR) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by smoking rate exhibit a concave pattern, with RRs in low rate smokers exceeding a linear extrapolation from higher rate smokers. However, cigarettes/day does not by itself fully characterize smoking-related risks. A reexamination of the concave pattern using a comprehensive representation of smoking may enhance insights. MATERIAL: Data were from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective cohort enrolled in four areas of the U.S. in 1987-89. Follow-up was through 2008. Analyses included 14,233 participants, 245,915 person-years and 3,411 CVD events. RESULTS: The concave RRs with cigarettes/day were consistent with cigarettes/day modifying a linear RR association of pack-years with CVD, i.e., strength of the packyears association depended on cigarettes/day, indicating that the manner of pack-years accrual impacted risk. Smoking fewer cigarettes/day for longer duration was more deleterious than smoking more cigarettes/day for shorter duration (P<0.01). For 50 packyears (365,000 cigarettes), estimated RRs of CVD were 2.1 for accrual at 20 cigarettes/day and 1.6 for accrual at 50 cigarettes/day. Years since smoking cessation did not alter the diminishing strength of association with increasing cigarettes/day. Analyses that accounted for competing risks did not affect findings. CONCLUSION: Pack-years remained the primary determinant of smoking-related CVD risk; however, accrual influenced RRs. For equal pack-years, smoking fewer cigarettes/day for longer duration was more deleterious than smoking more cigarettes/day for shorter duration. This observation provides clues to better understanding the biological mechanisms, and reinforces the importance of cessation rather than smoking less to reduce CVD risk.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-413782018-03-29T09:07:09Z Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity Lubin, J. Couper, D. Lutsey, P. Woodward, M. Yatsuya, H. Huxley, Rachel BACKGROUND: Relative risks (RR) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by smoking rate exhibit a concave pattern, with RRs in low rate smokers exceeding a linear extrapolation from higher rate smokers. However, cigarettes/day does not by itself fully characterize smoking-related risks. A reexamination of the concave pattern using a comprehensive representation of smoking may enhance insights. MATERIAL: Data were from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective cohort enrolled in four areas of the U.S. in 1987-89. Follow-up was through 2008. Analyses included 14,233 participants, 245,915 person-years and 3,411 CVD events. RESULTS: The concave RRs with cigarettes/day were consistent with cigarettes/day modifying a linear RR association of pack-years with CVD, i.e., strength of the packyears association depended on cigarettes/day, indicating that the manner of pack-years accrual impacted risk. Smoking fewer cigarettes/day for longer duration was more deleterious than smoking more cigarettes/day for shorter duration (P<0.01). For 50 packyears (365,000 cigarettes), estimated RRs of CVD were 2.1 for accrual at 20 cigarettes/day and 1.6 for accrual at 50 cigarettes/day. Years since smoking cessation did not alter the diminishing strength of association with increasing cigarettes/day. Analyses that accounted for competing risks did not affect findings. CONCLUSION: Pack-years remained the primary determinant of smoking-related CVD risk; however, accrual influenced RRs. For equal pack-years, smoking fewer cigarettes/day for longer duration was more deleterious than smoking more cigarettes/day for shorter duration. This observation provides clues to better understanding the biological mechanisms, and reinforces the importance of cessation rather than smoking less to reduce CVD risk. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41378 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000437 restricted
spellingShingle Lubin, J.
Couper, D.
Lutsey, P.
Woodward, M.
Yatsuya, H.
Huxley, Rachel
Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title_full Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title_fullStr Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title_full_unstemmed Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title_short Risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
title_sort risk of cardiovascular disease from cumulative cigarette use and the impact of smoking intensity
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41378