High Blood Viscosity Is Closely Associated With Cigarette Smoking and Markedly Reduced by Smoking Cessation

• Published in: Circulation Journal 2011, Vol.75(1), pp.185-189
• Main Authors: Shimada, Sayaka, Hasegawa, Koji, Wada, Hiromichi, Terashima, Sachiko, Satoh-Asahara, Noriko, Yamakage, Hajime, Kitaoka, Shuji, Akao, Masaharu, Shimatsu, Akira, Takahashi, Yuko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood rheology; Blood Viscosity; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cardiovascular risk; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hemorheology; Humans; Japan; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - blood; Smoking - psychology; Smoking Cessation - psychology; Smoking Prevention; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1346-9843; 1347-4820
• DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-10-0335

Background: Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. To date, a useful and convenient method of predicting such events in smokers has not been established. The rheological properties of blood assessed by the microchannel method reflect the blood's viscosity and the state of microthrombus formation, which may predict cardiovascular thrombotic events. Methods and Results: Blood fluidity was assessed in 74 smoking patients (54 men, 20 women, mean age 57.9 years) by measuring the blood passage time (BPT) in an aliquot (100μl) of blood using the Micro Channel Array Flow Analyzer. BPT was significantly related with smoking variables such as daily consumption of tobacco (r=0.236, P=0.044), Brinkman's index (r=0.252, P=0.033), the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (r=0.257, P=0.029), and the score of a self-rating depression scale (r=0.236, P