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The interrelationship among tobacco consumption, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and leukocyte counts
M M Celada1, J R Reguero, G I Cubero
1Servicio de Cardiologia, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Background:
Tobacco consumption is a major cardiovascular risk factor that has been related to changes in lipoprotein levels and in the leukocyte count.
Objective:
To investigate the interrelationship among leukocytes, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and tobacco consumption.
Methods:
In total 1022 healthy male miners aged 40.5+/-8 years (mean+/-SD) were evaluated consecutively during the period 1993-1994. We evaluated the smoking history of all of the subjects by means of a structured questionnaire. After the subject had fasted for 12 h we extracted blood samples by venepuncture. Plasma concentrations of HDL were determined enzymatically (by the CHOD-PAP method) and the leukocyte count was determined with an automatic analyser. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance for the mean differences and the Pearson and stepwise tests to determine correlations.
Results:
The leukocyte count was significantly lower (8.014+/-2.327/mm3, P < 0.05) in those subjects with levels of HDL cholesterol equal to or greater than 0.9 mmol/l in comparison with that in those with HDL cholesterol levels lower than 0.9 mmol/l (8.450+/-2.375/mm3). Leukocyte counts were correlated directly to tobacco consumption (r= 0.3119, P < 0.01) and inversely to H DL cholesterol levels (r = -0.1513, P < 0.01). HDL cholesterol levels were lower in smokers (1.15+/-0.31 mmol/l) and these differences were significant with respect to the levels in non-smokers (1.22+/-0.30 mmol/l, P<0.05) but not with respect to those in former smokers (1.21+/-0.39 mmol/l). The leukocyte count was significantly greater in smokers (8.963+/-2.428/mm3, P<0.05) than it was in former smokers (7.041+/-1.698/mm3) and in non-smokers (6.793+/-1.599/mm3).
Conclusions:
The results of this study indicate that tobacco consumption is associated with lower HDL cholesterol levels and higher leukocyte counts. Leukocyte counts correlate positively to tobacco consumption and inversely to HDL cholesterol levels. Subjects with HDL cholesterol levels lower than 0.9 mmol/l present with leukocyte counts higher than those found in those with HDL cholesterol values equal to or greater than 0.9 mmol/l.