Association of cigarette smoking intensity and pack-years with metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study

The relationship between cigarette smoking intensity, cumulative exposure and metabolic syndrome remains inadequately characterized despite smoking being a known metabolic risk factor. Therefore, it is of interest to examine the association of smoking status, intensity and pack-years with metabolic syndrome and its individual components among 200 adults using standardized questionnaires and logistic regression analysis. Metabolic syndrome was present in 35.0% of participants and showed a progressive increase from never smokers (24.4%) to former smokers (35.0%) and current smokers (48.6%). Among current smokers, prevalence rose in a dose-dependent manner from light to heavy smoking and was accompanied by higher frequencies of central obesity, low HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides. Both smoking intensity and cumulative pack-year exposure were independently associated with a graded increase in the prevalence and odds of metabolic syndrome. By showing a distinct dose-dependent relationship between cigarette smoking intensity, cumulative pack-years, and metabolic syndrome instead of evaluating smoking status alone, the current study builds on previous research. In addition to highlighting cumulative smoking exposure as an independent and clinically significant predictor of metabolic syndrome, this offers more support for quantitative risk stratification.