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Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia, characterized by abnormal levels of blood lipids, is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is particularly concerning in individuals who smoke, due to synergistic effects on vascular health. Smoking contributes to lipid abnormalities through oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of dyslipidemia in smokers is essential for early detection and preventive intervention, especially in high-risk populations with increasing tobacco consumption.
Objective: To determine the frequency of dyslipidemia among smokers attending a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from March to August 2024, at the Department of Medicine, Akhtar Saeed Trust Hospital, Lahore. After ethical approval and informed consent, 150 smokers aged 20–70 years were recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling. Demographic details, smoking history, lifestyle habits, comorbidities, and dietary patterns were recorded. Blood samples were collected for serum lipid profiling. Dyslipidemia was defined based on established lipid thresholds: total cholesterol >200 mg/dL, triglycerides >150 mg/dL, LDL-C >200 mg/dL, or HDL-C <35 mg/dL. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with chi-square tests applied for significance at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: The mean age of participants was 48.33 ± 9.27 years. Among 150 patients, 129 (86%) were male and 21 (14%) female. Hypertension and diabetes were present in 30% and 36.7% of participants, respectively. The mean BMI was 28.23 ± 3.77 kg/m², and average smoking intensity was 16.09 ± 3.40 cigarettes/day. Dyslipidemia was identified in 57 patients, yielding a prevalence of 38%. Significant associations were found with sedentary lifestyle (62.1%, p = 0.002) and fast-food consumption (51.8%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Dyslipidemia was commonly observed among smokers, with dietary and lifestyle factors playing a prominent role. Routine lipid screening and lifestyle counseling should be prioritized in this high-risk group.