Smoking and risk of myocardial infarction in women and men: longitudinal population study
- PMID: 9552903
- PMCID: PMC28505
- DOI: 10.1136/bmj.316.7137.1043
Smoking and risk of myocardial infarction in women and men: longitudinal population study
Abstract
Objective: To compare risk of myocardial infarction associated with smoking in men and women, taking into consideration differences in smoking behaviour and a number of potential confounding variables.
Design: Prospective cohort study with follow up of myocardial infarction.
Setting: Pooled data from three population studies conducted in Copenhagen.
Subjects: 11,472 women and 13,191 men followed for a mean of 12.3 years.
Main outcome measures: First admission to hospital or death caused by myocardial infarction.
Results: 1251 men and 512 women had a myocardial infarction during follow up. Compared with non-smokers, female current smokers had a relative risk of myocardial infarction of 2.24 (range 1.85-2.71) and male smokers 1.43 (1.26-1.62); ratio 1.57 (1.25-1.97). Relative risk of myocardial infarction increased with tobacco consumption in both men and women and was higher in inhalers than in non-inhalers. The risks associated with smoking, measured by both current and accumulated tobacco exposure, were consistently higher in women than in men and did not depend on age. This sex difference was not affected by adjustment for arterial blood pressure, total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, triglyceride concentrations, diabetes, body mass index, height, alcohol intake, physical activity, and level of education.
Conclusion: Women may be more sensitive than men to some of the harmful effects of smoking. Interactions between components of smoke and hormonal factors that may be involved in development of ischaemic heart disease should be examined further.
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Comment in
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Smoking and risk of myocardial infarction. Statistical and biological interactions should not be confused.BMJ. 1998 Oct 10;317(7164):1017; author reply 1018. doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7164.1017a. BMJ. 1998. PMID: 9765186 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
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Smoking and risk of myocardial infarction. Smoking is a feminist issue.BMJ. 1998 Oct 10;317(7164):1018. BMJ. 1998. PMID: 9841032 No abstract available.
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Smoking and risk of myocardial infarction. Studying relative risk is not enough.BMJ. 1998 Oct 10;317(7164):1018. BMJ. 1998. PMID: 9841033 No abstract available.
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