Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is generally well-known that smoking has a substantial impact on general health, and cardiovascular health in particular. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of different smoking status on the burden and characteristics of coronary artery plaques in Chinese men. METHODS: Our study enrolled 1920 individuals with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing 256-detector-row computed tomography scan after clinical assessment. These study participants were stratified into three groups: never smoker, current smoker, and former smoker, according to their smoking status. Thereafter, the associations of different smoking status with the coronary artery plaques were assessed using both univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalences of any plaque, significant stenosis and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) ≥ 10 were highest in the current smokers (all p < 0.05). The proportion of calcified plaques was the lowest and the prevalence of non-calcified plaques was the highest in current smokers (p = 0.004). The higher pack-years group had significantly elevated percentages of any plaque, significant stenosis, ≥ 2/LM vessel disease and CACS ≥ 10 than the lower pack-years group (all p < 0.001). The percent of calcified plaques was lower and the percent of non-calcified plaques was higher in the higher (> 20) pack-years group than in the lower pack-years group (≤ 20) (p = 0.024). Current smoking with higher pack-years was the independent risk factor for any plaque, significant stenosis, CACS ≥ 10, non-calcified and mixed plaques (all p < 0.05) after multivariate adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: The current smokers had the most serious burden of coronary artery plaques and the highest percentage of non-calcified plaques. Current smoking with higher pack-years was a significant risk factor for coronary artery plaque burden and non-calcified and mixed plaques. KEY WORDS: Chinese men; Cigarette smoking; Coronary artery calcium score; Coronary artery plaques; Non-calcified plaques.