Stroke: the amount of tobacco consumed, a persistent risk factor 15 years after stopping

The risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) depend more on the amount of tobacco consumed on the time elapsed since the cessation of smoking, suggests a study presented at the International Congress of the American Stroke Association, held Florida (USA).

Previous studies have suggested that the risk of stroke among former smokers who stopped for more than 15 years proved similar to that of nonsmokers.

However, these studies did not consider the number of packs of cigarettes consumed by the participants, said the press release from the American Stroke Association available on the website of the event.

Joao Lima, of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore (USA), and colleagues, compared with the (MRI) magnetic resonance imaging technique, the health of the carotid arteries and aorta 27 former smokers and 15 non-smokers, with a mean age of 73 years. Many stroke have indeed originated narrowing of the carotid arteries (in the neck) due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and their obstruction by a clot and stop the supply to the brain.

Smokers were divided into four groups:

- Group 1: less than 20 pack-years consumption (or a pack of 20 cigarettes per day for 20 years) and a stop more than 15 years,

- Group 2: consumption of less than 20 pack-years and a stop less than or equal to 15 years

- Group 3: a consumption equal to 20 pack-years and a stop more than 15 years,

- Group 4: higher consumption 20 pack-years and a stop less than or equal to 15 years.

Their results indicate that the walls of the aorta, the main artery connected to the heart, appear thicker-average of 1.13 cm3-in former smokers than in nonsmokers. Moreover, this difference in thickness increases parallel to the amount of tobacco consumed, respectively in group 1 to group 4. The wall thickness of the carotid arteries was also found thicker in former smokers than in nonsmokers.

This study reveals a direct and strong association between the thickness of the arterial wall and increased levels of risk among former smokers. The best solution of not start or stop smoking as soon as possible, the authors recommend.