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Respiratory decline in smokers and ex-smokers--an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death

Engström, Gunnar LU ; Hedblad, B ; Janzon, L and Valind, S (2000) In Journal of Cardiovascular Risk 7(4). p.267-272
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although smoking is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and death, many smokers remain healthy after many years of smoking. Our objective was to assess whether this variation is related to rate of decline of respiratory function. DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study, its subjects being men born in 1914 from Malmo, Sweden. METHODS: All 291 smokers who since the baseline examination in 1969 had remained in Malmo were invited to a follow-up examination in 1982. Of the 242 participants, 199 men without history of myocardial infarction or stroke were included in the study. Eighty-four of them had quit smoking. The incidence of cardiovascular disease and death during 14 years was... (More)
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although smoking is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and death, many smokers remain healthy after many years of smoking. Our objective was to assess whether this variation is related to rate of decline of respiratory function. DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study, its subjects being men born in 1914 from Malmo, Sweden. METHODS: All 291 smokers who since the baseline examination in 1969 had remained in Malmo were invited to a follow-up examination in 1982. Of the 242 participants, 199 men without history of myocardial infarction or stroke were included in the study. Eighty-four of them had quit smoking. The incidence of cardiovascular disease and death during 14 years was studied in relation to the decline in lung function [forced expiratory volume during 1 second (FEV1.0) and vital capacity] between 55 and 68 years of age. RESULTS: Fifty-nine (51%) smokers and 43 (51%) ex-smokers died. Forty-four (38%) smokers and 29 (35%) ex-smokers suffered a cardiovascular event. The mortality rate among smokers in the high, middle and low thirds with regard to the decline in FEV1.0 was 66.5, 44.0, and 37.6, respectively, per 1000 person-years (P for trend = 0.04). The corresponding figures in ex-smokers were 88.7, 42.0, and 35.1 (P for trend = 0.002). The cardiovascular event rate among smokers in these three groups was 56.0, 41.0, and 22.7 events, respectively, per 1000 person-years (P for trend = 0.01). The association remained significant after adjustments for potential confounders. A change in vital capacity was associated with a similar pattern of disease and death. CONCLUSION: Although smoking is associated with an accelerated respiratory decline, there are marked differences between smokers. The increased cardiovascular event and death rates among those whose lung function declined the most suggests that the change in respiratory function can be used as a measure of individual susceptibility. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Cardiovascular Risk
volume
7
issue
4
pages
267 - 272
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • pmid:11006897
  • scopus:84992791293
ISSN
1350-6277
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
eaca2030-b592-453a-9735-7c89bedc7397 (old id 1116161)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:46:44
date last changed
2023-06-05 04:00:36
@article{eaca2030-b592-453a-9735-7c89bedc7397,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although smoking is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and death, many smokers remain healthy after many years of smoking. Our objective was to assess whether this variation is related to rate of decline of respiratory function. DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study, its subjects being men born in 1914 from Malmo, Sweden. METHODS: All 291 smokers who since the baseline examination in 1969 had remained in Malmo were invited to a follow-up examination in 1982. Of the 242 participants, 199 men without history of myocardial infarction or stroke were included in the study. Eighty-four of them had quit smoking. The incidence of cardiovascular disease and death during 14 years was studied in relation to the decline in lung function [forced expiratory volume during 1 second (FEV1.0) and vital capacity] between 55 and 68 years of age. RESULTS: Fifty-nine (51%) smokers and 43 (51%) ex-smokers died. Forty-four (38%) smokers and 29 (35%) ex-smokers suffered a cardiovascular event. The mortality rate among smokers in the high, middle and low thirds with regard to the decline in FEV1.0 was 66.5, 44.0, and 37.6, respectively, per 1000 person-years (P for trend = 0.04). The corresponding figures in ex-smokers were 88.7, 42.0, and 35.1 (P for trend = 0.002). The cardiovascular event rate among smokers in these three groups was 56.0, 41.0, and 22.7 events, respectively, per 1000 person-years (P for trend = 0.01). The association remained significant after adjustments for potential confounders. A change in vital capacity was associated with a similar pattern of disease and death. CONCLUSION: Although smoking is associated with an accelerated respiratory decline, there are marked differences between smokers. The increased cardiovascular event and death rates among those whose lung function declined the most suggests that the change in respiratory function can be used as a measure of individual susceptibility.}},
  author       = {{Engström, Gunnar and Hedblad, B and Janzon, L and Valind, S}},
  issn         = {{1350-6277}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{267--272}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Journal of Cardiovascular Risk}},
  title        = {{Respiratory decline in smokers and ex-smokers--an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}