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.
