Carboxyhaemoglobin and serum cholesterol levels in smokers.

Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) and serum cholesterol levels were studied in twenty five chronic smokers, smoking different quantities of cigarettes, biris and "hooka" for more than ten years and compared with equal number of age and sex matched non-smoker controls. COHb levels were found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in chronic smokers as compared to non-smokers while no significant difference (P greater than 0.1) was found in serum cholesterol levels between the two groups. Cigarette smokers had a higher COHb level as compared to biris smokers (P less than 0.001).