Association between smoking and hypertension: data from a cohort study in West of Iran

Background: Smoking is important risk factors for many chronic disease and hypertension is main cause of the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) diseases. But the association between smoking as the most common risk factor and hypertension as the most common cardiovascular disease remains unclear. This study investigates the association between smoking and hypertension in the largest population-based study in western Iran. Methods: This population-based study was based on a recruitment phase of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study. After inclusion criteria from the total of ۱۰,۰۶۵ participant’s age ۳۵-۶۵years, ۶۹۵۸ participants were assessed. Results: The lifetime prevalence of smoking was ۴۶.۶%, and ۸.۴% were current smokers. After control of confounding variables smoking after ۳۰ years old, had ۴.۲۸ mmHg (-۶.۶۶, -۱.۹۰) reduction in the SBP than their counterparts. A dose-response model indicated that increasing the duration of smoking and intensity of exposure to SHS increased the SBP in both sexes, but increasing the number of cigarettes smoked per day increased the SBP in women and increasing the age of onset smoking decreased the SBP in women. Conclusion: Physicians must be conscious of the risk of future hypertension in persistent smokers, passive smokers, and those who have stopped smoking. Stricter disciplinary measures and prevention policies e.g. prohibiting smoking in key public venues are recommended.

Keywords:

Hypertension , Smoking , Blood pressure , Current smoker , Prevalence , Iran.