Masahiko Iwaoka1, Hiromasa Shimamura2, Takeshi Tsuji2, Kiyotaka Kugiyama3. 1. Division of Cardiology, Tokyo Kita Social Insurance Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: i_masahiko@yahoo.co.jp. 2. Division of Cardiology, Tokyo Kita Social Insurance Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. 3. Department of Internal Medicine II, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking adversely affects lipid profiles, and smoking cessation should improve lipid profiles in the long term. However, it remains unclear whether intensive, medication-based smoking cessation therapy can affect lipid profiles in the short term. Thus, we evaluated the short-term effects of smoking cessation therapy with varenicline on lipid profiles. METHODS: Participants included 86 consecutive subjects who received 12 weeks of smoking cessation therapy. All subjects were treated with varenicline, and no changes were made to their current lipotropic and antidiabetic medications during treatment. At first and last visits, lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels were evaluated and physical examination was performed. The success group, comprising subjects who attained exhaled carbon monoxide-confirmed 4-week continuous abstinence, included 69 subjects, whereas the failure group, comprising those who did not achieve complete smoking cessation, included 17 subjects. The number of cigarettes consumed per day was reduced in all subjects in the failure group. RESULTS: Serum apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels significantly increased from baseline to 12 weeks in the success group (apoA-I: 151.7 ± 28.0 vs. 158.6 ± 27.3 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.01; HDL-C: 54.6 ± 15.7 vs. 57.9 ± 14.3 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.01); however, there were no statistically significant differences observed in the failure group (apoA-I, 145.9 ± 33.4 vs. 146.8 ± 34.2 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.87; HDL-C, 52.6 ± 15.7 vs. 53.3 ± 16.3 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.80). The effect sizes (Cohen's d) of apoA-I and HDL-C in the success group were 0.42 and 0.46, respectively. The post hoc statistical power values of apoA-I and HDL-C in the success group were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that successful smoking cessation therapy with varenicline improves serum apoA-I and HDL-C levels in the short term.
BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking adversely affects lipid profiles, and smoking cessation should improve lipid profiles in the long term. However, it remains unclear whether intensive, medication-based smoking cessation therapy can affect lipid profiles in the short term. Thus, we evaluated the short-term effects of smoking cessation therapy with varenicline on lipid profiles. METHODS:Participants included 86 consecutive subjects who received 12 weeks of smoking cessation therapy. All subjects were treated with varenicline, and no changes were made to their current lipotropic and antidiabetic medications during treatment. At first and last visits, lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels were evaluated and physical examination was performed. The success group, comprising subjects who attained exhaled carbon monoxide-confirmed 4-week continuous abstinence, included 69 subjects, whereas the failure group, comprising those who did not achieve complete smoking cessation, included 17 subjects. The number of cigarettes consumed per day was reduced in all subjects in the failure group. RESULTS: Serum apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels significantly increased from baseline to 12 weeks in the success group (apoA-I: 151.7 ± 28.0 vs. 158.6 ± 27.3 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.01; HDL-C: 54.6 ± 15.7 vs. 57.9 ± 14.3 mg/dL, respectively, p<0.01); however, there were no statistically significant differences observed in the failure group (apoA-I, 145.9 ± 33.4 vs. 146.8 ± 34.2 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.87; HDL-C, 52.6 ± 15.7 vs. 53.3 ± 16.3 mg/dL, respectively, p=0.80). The effect sizes (Cohen's d) of apoA-I and HDL-C in the success group were 0.42 and 0.46, respectively. The post hoc statistical power values of apoA-I and HDL-C in the success group were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that successful smoking cessation therapy with varenicline improves serum apoA-I and HDL-C levels in the short term.