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Smoking and cardiovascular disease in the general population in Japan
Y Kiyohara1, K Ueda, M Fujishima
1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease in both men and women. However, smoking was not found to be a risk factor for non-embolic cerebral infarction in this long-term study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Tobacco Control
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- The impact of lifestyle factors, particularly smoking, on CVD incidence requires ongoing investigation.
- Understanding population-specific risks is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of cigarette smoking on the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and non-embolic cerebral infarction.
- To identify smoking as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in a Japanese community.
- To assess the combined impact of major risk factors on CHD development.
Main Methods:
- A long-term prospective cohort study involving 1603 Japanese adults aged 40 years and older in Hisayama.
- Assessment of smoking habits at baseline and follow-up for 23 years.
- Analysis of coronary heart disease and non-embolic cerebral infarction incidence using Cox's proportional hazards model.
Main Results:
- Higher incidence of coronary heart disease was observed in individuals smoking more than 10 cigarettes daily compared to non-smokers, in both sexes.
- No significant association was found between smoking status and the occurrence of non-embolic cerebral infarction.
- The presence of multiple risk factors (smoking, hypertension, elevated cholesterol) amplified the risk of coronary heart disease by 2.4-7.7 times.
Conclusions:
- Cigarette smoking is an independent and significant risk factor for coronary heart disease.
- Smoking cessation interventions may reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
- Further research into the multifactorial nature of cardiovascular disease is warranted.
Abstract:
The effects of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular disease were investigated in the Japanese community of Hisayama. This long-term prospective study assessed the occurrence of coronary heart disease and non-embolic cerebral infarction in relation to smoking habits at entry. The study population comprised 1603 subjects aged greater than or equal to 40 years. Seventy-six per cent of 699 men and 17% of 904 women were smokers. During 23 years of follow-up, 73 cases of coronary heart disease and 175 cases of non-embolic cerebral infarction developed. In both sexes, coronary heart disease occurred more frequently in those who smoked greater than 10 cigarettes per day than in those who never smoked. There was no relationship between smoking status and the incidence of non-embolic cerebral infarction. When more than one of the major risk factors (smoking, hypertension and elevated cholesterol) was present in the same person, the risk of coronary heart disease increased 2.4-7.7 times. Cox's proportional hazards model showed that cigarette smoking was an independent and significant risk factor for coronary heart disease, but not for non-embolic cerebral infarction.