The aim of this study was to assess the impact of tobacco smoking on the selected risk factors for cardiovascular disease in young adults.
Material and methods: we analyzed the results of cardiovascular screening management on medical students aged 20-24. The study was conducted on 438 persons, 350 non-smokers (N) and 88 smokers (S) declared as healthy individuals: 274 females (F), 230 non-smokers (FN) and 44 smokers (FS), and 164 males (M), 120 non-smokers (MN) and 44 smokers (MS). The subjects were measured waist, body mass index (BMI), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, They were assessed fasting capillary blood tests: glucose, total cholesterol (T-C), triacylglycerols (TAG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), nonHDL-C, T-C/HDL-C ratio, using analyzer Reflotron Plus (Roche Diagnostics, USA). The results collected in groups of females (F), males (M), non-smokers (N) and smokers (S) were calculated using Statistica 10 version.
Results: Females and males did not differ with their age, BMI, TAG, LDL-C and nonHDL-C, but males presented physiological higher waist and T-C/HDL-C ratio, decreased HDL-C, and higher SBP and DBP, although within references. N and S females did not differ with waist, BMI, SBP and DBP, similar to N and S males. Smokers (S) presented increased TAG, decreased HDL-C and higher waist, comparing with non-smokers (N) - without relation of TAG and HDL-C to either waist or BMI. FS group were found increased TAG and correlation TAG&BMI (R=0,45), as compared with FN group. MS group had higher TAG and lower HDL-C than MN group, and negative correlation TAG&HDL-C (R=-0,39).
Conclusion: Tobacco smoking, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can modify plasma lipid profile in young adults to increase the risk more, especially in males.