Evaluation of the Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Platelet Count and Indices among Sudanese Smokers in Khartoum State

Abstract

This is analytical cross sectional studyconductedin Khartoum state during the period from December 2013 to January 2014 to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on platelet count and indices on Sudanesemales. One hundred (100) samples were collected fromsmokersand seventy (70) samples were collected from non-smokers as control, all participants were informed about the study and informed consent for participationwas obtained. The age of smokers between seventeen (17) and fifty five (55) years and consume from five to sixty cigarette per day for at least one year, and not suffer from bleeding, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. 2.5 ml of venous blood samples were collected in ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) containers. Theplatelet count and indices were investigated using hematological analyzer (sysmex KX-21N) and statistical package for socialscience (SPSS) computer program version 11.5 was used for data analysis. The mean platelet count was significantly decreased in smokers when compared with non-smokers (P value=0.000)and this lowering in platelet count was not related to the number of cigarette per day or the duration of smoking. There were no significant differences in mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet large cell ratio between smokers and non-smokers, P value (0.219), (0.178) and (0.296) respectively. The peripheral blood smear was examined to determine the size, morphology and aggregation of platelet and there was no appearanceof giantplatelet,aggregation or abnormal morphology of platelet.