Association of Lipid Profile and Obesity as Cardiovascular Risk Factor in Smokers and Non-smokers

Obesity & smoking leads to elevated levels of lipid profile thus they increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Aim of the study undertaken, is to evaluate the association of smoking and obesity with altered plasma lipid profile and also to establish smoking as a major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease in male smokers v/s non-smoker healthy matched controls.

The subjects were divided into two groups healthy smokers (n=70) & healthy non-smokers (n=50). The smoker & non-smoker subjects were further classified into two sub-groups on the basis of BMI. Fasting blood samples were collected from both cases and controls and lipid profile was estimated by using auto-analyzer.

Observation of the lipid profile of two sub-groups of smoker category (normal weight & overweight or obese) showed that TC (P<0.0001), TG (P<0.0005), LDL-C (P<0.0001) & AI (P<0.0001) were increased significantly in smoker-obese as compared to smokers with normal weight; while the serum levels of HDL-C (P<0.0001) were decreased significantly in them. TC (P=0.051) & TG (P=0.2151) of non-smoker obese subjects were increased statistically in a non-significant manner. Their LDL-C (p=0.0127) & AI (P=0.0299) were significantly increased; while the serum levels of HDL-C (P=0.0448) were decreased significantly in this sub-group. The plasma lipid profile of smokers was found to be increased in a statistically significant manner (P<0.0001) in comparison to non-smokers.

Obese & smoker people are at increased risk of developing CVD.