Smoking state determined by cotinine and arterial stiffness

Abstract

Background: Exposure to active and passive smoking is associated with arterial stiffness and cotinine is an objective biochemical indicator to classify smoking state. The aim of the study was to survey participant smoking condition with cotinine in North China and discuss its destructive effect on arterial stiffness. Methods and Results: Nine hundred and six people were recruited in this study and were classified into non-smokers, passive smokers and active smokers according to the cotinine level. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using an automatic device. Active smokers vs non-smokers showed a significantly higher baPWV (P=0.023) after adjusting for covariates. Participants who smoked longer than 10 years had a higher baPWV than non-smokers (P=0.029) although no significant difference existed between those who had a smoking history of less than 10 years and those who had never smoked. In less developed areas, the active and passive smoking rates were higher than that in Beijing (P<0.001) while active smokers vs non-smokers had a higher baPWV (P=0.017). Conclusions: Active smokers, as confirmed by the cotinine level have worse arterial stiffness, and long-term smoking can cause marked arterial stiffness. Smoking exposure might bring about more serious effects on arterial function in patients from poor areas man in modernized cities.