Chinese water-pipe tobacco smoking acts as a risk factor for inflammation and endothelial dysfunction

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Chinese water-pipe smoking with cigarette smoking on endothelial function and inflammation markers. This multicenter, cross-sectional study enrolled 356 individuals (=18 years of age) from 6 towns in the Qujing area of the Yunnan Province, China. Plasma levels of hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-a, ET-1, MCP-1, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate endothelial function and inflammation. The results indicated that the levels of hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-a, ET-1, MCP-1, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the cigarette-smoking group and water-pipe smoking group compared to non-smokers, although there was no significant difference between the cigarette-smoking and water-pipe smoking groups. In conclusion, the exposure to Chinese water-pipe smoke is a comparable risk factor to cigarette smoking for endothelial dysfunction and inflammation.