Abstract
Objective: To study the association between smoking, smoking cessation and aortic arc calcification (AAC) in an older Chinese population.
Methods: A total of 3022 men and 7279 women aged 50-85 years were recruited and received a medical check-up including measurement of fasting plasma vascular risk factors. Two radiologists reviewed the posterior-anterior plain chest X-ray radiographs and assessed AAC together. Information on smoking status, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors was collected.
Results: The crude prevalence of AAC in men (38.58%) was lower than that in women (41.37%). The adjusted odds ratios of AAC increased significantly across never, ex- and current smokers in both genders. Dose-response relationships were observed among current smokers for smoking amount (cigarettes/day), smoking duration (years) and cigarette pack-years in both genders (all p < 0.01). The odds ratios decreased significantly (p = 0.018) with longer duration of quitting in light ex-smoking men (<23.5 pack-years) but showed no beneficial effect (p = 0.72) for heavy ex-smokers (≥23.5 pack-years).
Conclusion: Smoking increased the risk of AAC in Chinese, while smoking cessation decreased the risk only in male light ex-smokers. Chest X-ray is a cheap and simple method to detect AAC, which should be an important warning signal for immediate smoking cessation.
Methods: A total of 3022 men and 7279 women aged 50-85 years were recruited and received a medical check-up including measurement of fasting plasma vascular risk factors. Two radiologists reviewed the posterior-anterior plain chest X-ray radiographs and assessed AAC together. Information on smoking status, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors was collected.
Results: The crude prevalence of AAC in men (38.58%) was lower than that in women (41.37%). The adjusted odds ratios of AAC increased significantly across never, ex- and current smokers in both genders. Dose-response relationships were observed among current smokers for smoking amount (cigarettes/day), smoking duration (years) and cigarette pack-years in both genders (all p < 0.01). The odds ratios decreased significantly (p = 0.018) with longer duration of quitting in light ex-smoking men (<23.5 pack-years) but showed no beneficial effect (p = 0.72) for heavy ex-smokers (≥23.5 pack-years).
Conclusion: Smoking increased the risk of AAC in Chinese, while smoking cessation decreased the risk only in male light ex-smokers. Chest X-ray is a cheap and simple method to detect AAC, which should be an important warning signal for immediate smoking cessation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 529-534 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Atherosclerosis |
| Volume | 202 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Online published | 14 Mar 2008 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
The study is funded by The University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research, Hong Kong; the Guangzhou Public Health Bureau and the Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Guangzhou, China; and The University of Birmingham, UK. We thank Professor Zhang C.H. and Dr. Jiao S.H. for reviewing the chest radiographs. The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study investigators include: the Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital: X.Q. Lao, W.S. Zhang, M. Cao, T. Zhu, B. Liu, C.Q. Jiang (Co-PI); The University of Hong Kong: G.N. Thomas, C.M. Schooling, S.M. McGhee, R. Fielding, G.M. Leung, T.H. Lam (Co-PI); The University of Birmingham: P. Adab, M. Zeegers, K.K. Cheng (Co-PI).
Research Keywords
- Aortic arch calcification
- Chinese
- Smoking
- Smoking cessation