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[Cotinine--a useful biomarker for tobacco use?]
P M Suter1, A Spitzbarth, K Gautschi
1Departement für Innere Medizine, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Praxis
|July 18, 1995
Summary
Measuring cotinine in saliva or urine is a reliable biochemical method to verify nicotine abstinence in patients. This helps manage avoidable risk factors like smoking for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
- Public Health
Context:
- Nicotine consumption is a major preventable risk factor for atherosclerosis and various diseases.
- Accurate assessment of smoking abstinence is challenging in clinical practice.
- Biomarkers are needed to objectively verify nicotine use and abstinence.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of cotinine measurement in saliva and urine as a biomarker for nicotine abstinence.
- To compare cotinine levels with self-reported smoking habits and carbon monoxide levels.
- To determine the best biochemical marker for monitoring nicotine consumption.
Summary:
- This study assessed 68 patients for smoking habits using questionnaires, breath carbon monoxide, and salivary/urine cotinine levels.
- Smokers exhibited significantly higher breath carbon monoxide and cotinine concentrations.
- Urine and saliva cotinine levels correlated well with self-reported nicotine consumption, with creatine-corrected cotinine showing the strongest correlation with recent cigarette use.
Impact:
- Saliva or urine cotinine measurement is a valuable biochemical tool for objectively confirming nicotine abstinence.
- This method can aid healthcare professionals in managing patients with smoking-related risk factors.
- Further research is needed to explore cotinine's utility in assessing passive smoking.