Prevalence rate of Metabolic Syndrome in a group of light and heavy smokers

Background: Smoking is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is widely accepted as a majorrisk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Smoking reduces insulin sensitivity or induces insulin resistanceand enhances cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated plasma triglycerides, decreases high-density lipoproteincholesterol and causes hyperglycemia. Several studies show that smoking is associated with metabolicabnormalities and increases the risk of Metabolic Syndrome. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalenceof the metabolic syndrome in a group of light and heavy smokers, wishing to give up smoking.Methods: In this cross-sectional study all the enrolled subjects voluntary joined the smoking cessation programheld by the Respiratory Pathophysiology Unit of San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Northern Italy.All the subjects enrolled were former smokers from at least 10 years and had no cancer or psychiatric disorders, norhistory of diabetes or CVD or coronary artery disease and were not on any medication.Results: The subjects smoke 32.3 ± 16.5 mean Pack Years. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 52.1%:57.3% and 44.9% for males and females respectively. Analysing the smoking habit influence on the IDF criteria forthe metabolic syndrome diagnosis we found that all the variables show an increasing trend from light to heavysmokers, except for HDL cholesterol. A statistical significant correlation among Pack Years and waist circumference(R = 0.48, p < 0.0001), Systolic Blood Pressure (R = 0.18, p < 0.05), fasting plasma glucose (R = 0.19, p < 0.005) and HDLcholesterol (R = −0.26, p = 0.0005) has been observed.Conclusions: Currently smoking subjects are at high risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.Therapeutic lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation are a desirable Public health goal and should successfullybe implemented in clinical practice at any age.