Korean J Fam Med.  2019 Jul;40(4):248-253. 10.4082/kjfm.17.0098.

Relationship between Smoking and Abdominal Aorta Calcification on Computed Tomography

• Jung JG
• Wu LT
• Kim JS
• Kim ED
• Yoon SJ

• KMID: 2454762
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0098

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which often develops as vascular calcification on radiologic examinations. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking-related factors and incidental abdominal aorta calcification (AAC) detected by computed tomography (CT) among middle-aged and elderly men.
METHODS
We assessed the abdominal CT findings of 218 men aged 40 to 81 years who underwent health checkups. The associations between smoking factors and AAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounding variables such as age, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases.
RESULTS
Adjusting for confounding variables, the risk of AAC was significantly increased in association with smoking for at least 20 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-14.93), smoking 10+ pack-years (10-20 pack-years: AOR, 4.54; 95% CI, 1.07-5.68; >20 pack-years: AOR, 5.28; 95% CI, 2.10-13.31), and a history of smoking (former smoker: AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07-5.68; current smoker: AOR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.08-12.26). In terms of the daily smoking amount, even a low smoking level increased the risk of AAC.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that smoking for 20+ years, smoking 10+ pack-years, and even a low level of smoking daily increases the likelihood of developing AAC. Clinicians should recommend that patients quit smoking and stress the importance of smoking duration when promoting health in middle-aged and elderly patients.

Keyword

Smoking; Abdominal Aorta Calcification; Atherosclerosis; Computed Tomography

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aorta, Abdominal*
Atherosclerosis
Chronic Disease
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Humans
Life Style
Logistic Models
Male
Odds Ratio
Smoke*
Smoking*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vascular Calcification
Smoke