Abstract:
Background: Smoking is considered a risk factor for some cardiac diseases and therefore this study aims to assess the serum levels of highly-sensitive C-reactive protein as a marker of cardiovascular inflammatory disease among smokers. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum, Sudan during the period from March to July 2013. Sixty (60) adult-smokers were selected as part of a test group from Khartoum and forty (40) non-smoker adults as control group to assess the serum levels of highly-sensitive C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Age and sex of test group was matched with control group. Colorimetric methods were used with commercial kits from Biosystems Company for measuring lipid profile and the hsCRP levels were measured by using fluorescence immune assay technology (sandwich immune detection method). (SPSS) computer software was used for data analysis.Results:Results showed a significant increase in the means of serum levels of highly-sensitive C-reactive protein (p=0.000), total cholesterol (p=0.000), and LDLc (p=0.000) of smokers when compared with the control group. Results of this study observed significant decrease in the mean of serum levels of HDLc (p=0.000) of smoker when compared with the control groupand a significantdifference in the mean of serum levels of triglycerides (p=1.371) of smokers when compared with the control group.Also the results of the current study showed significant positive correlation between serum levels of total cholesterol, LDLc with hsCRP (r=0.304, P=0.018) and (r=434, P=0.001) respectively. Furthermore, there is asignificant correlation between serum levels of HDLc with hsCRP (r=0.023, P=0.863).Furthermore the results showed significant positive correlation between serum levels of hsCRP, with duration of smoking(r=0.81, P=0.000) and no significant correlation between serum levels of HDLc with duration of smoking (r=0.109, P=0.407).Conclusion:Study concludes that smoking increase the serum levels of hsCRP, total cholesterol, and LDLc, and decrease the serum levels of HDLc and also the levels of hsCRP, total cholesterol, LDLc affected by duration of smoking. So these parameters can be used as predictors for cardiovascular disease among smokers
