Table 7.
Sex-specific associations between years since quitting smoking in former smokers and markers of arterial stiffness
| Model 1** Beta estimate [95% CI] | p value | Model 2# Beta estimate [95% CI] | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years since quitting smoking in former smokers | Estimates for stiffness index | |||
| Men | ||||
| Current smoking (ref.) | – | – | – | – |
| > 0– < 5 | − 0.25 [− 0.52; 0.019] | 0.068 | − 0.16 [− 0.50; 0.19] | 0.38 |
| ≥ 5– < 10 | − 0.40 [− 0.65; − 0.14] | 0.0021 | − 0.18 [− 0.51; 0.16] | 0.30 |
| ≥ 10– < 20 | − 0.64 [− 0.85; − 0.42] | < 0.0001 | − 0.47 [− 0.77; − 0.18] | 0.0018 |
| ≥ 20– < 30 | − 0.67 [− 0.90; − 0.45] | < 0.0001 | − 0.45 [− 0.76; − 0.14] | 0.0040 |
| ≥ 30 | − 0.54 [− 0.76; − 0.31] | < 0.0001 | − 0.33 [− 0.64; − 0.016] | 0.040 |
| Women | ||||
| Current smoking (ref.) | – | – | – | – |
| > 0– < 5 | − 0.36 [− 0.60; − 0.12] | 0.0035 | − 0.16 [− 0.48; 0.15] | 0.31 |
| ≥ 5– < 10 | − 0.27 [− 0.48; − 0.054] | 0.014 | − 0.048 [− 0.34; 0.24] | 0.75 |
| ≥ 10– < 20 | − 0.38 [− 0.56; − 0.19] | < 0.0001 | − 0.0052 [− 0.27; 0.26] | 0.97 |
| ≥ 20– < 30 | − 0.26 [− 0.45; − 0.075] | 0.0063 | 0.030 [− 0.23; 0.30] | 0.82 |
| ≥ 30 | − 0.41 [− 0.62; − 0.20] | 0.00014 | − 0.17 [− 0.45; 0.12] | 0.25 |
| Estimates for augmentation index | ||||
| Men | ||||
| Current smoking (ref.) | – | – | – | – |
| > 0– < 5 | − 3.1 [− 5.1; − 1.1] | 0.0020 | − 1.7 [− 4.2; 0.82] | 0.19 |
| ≥ 5– < 10 | − 5.4 [− 7.2; − 3.5] | < 0.0001 | − 3.3 [− 5.7; − 0.90] | 0.0071 |
| ≥ 10– < 20 | − 6.5 [− 8.0; − 4.9] | < 0.0001 | − 4.8 [− 7.0; − 2.7] | < 0.0001 |
| ≥ 20– < 30 | − 8.3 [− 10; − 6.7] | < 0.0001 | − 6.2 [− 8.4; − 3.9] | < 0.0001 |
| ≥ 30 | − 8.7 [− 10; − 7.0] | < 0.0001 | − 6.0 [− 8.3; − 3.8] | < 0.0001 |
| Women | ||||
| Current smoking (ref.) | – | – | – | – |
| > 0– < 5 | − 4.8 [− 7.7; − 1.9] | 0.0013 | − 0.033 [− 3.7; 3.6] | 0.99 |
| ≥ 5– < 10 | − 5.5 [− 8.1; − 2.9] | < 0.0001 | − 2.4 [− 5.8; 0.95] | 0.16 |
| ≥ 10– < 20 | − 4.9 [− 7.1; − 2.7] | < 0.0001 | − 1.2 [− 4.2; 1.9] | 0.45 |
| ≥ 20– < 30 | − 6.5 [− 8.7; − 4.2] | < 0.0001 | − 3.4 [− 6.4; − 0.32] | 0.031 |
| ≥ 30 | − 4.1 [− 6.6; − 1.6] | < 0.0013 | − 1.8 [− 5.0; − 0.60] | 0.29 |
Beta estimates and 95% confidence intervals are derived from a linear regression model modelling for arterial stiffness. Years since quitting were modelled as categories (the reference category was current smoking)
Statistically significant P values (P < 0.05) are given in bold
**Model 1 was adjusted for age and augmentation index was additionally adjusted for height and heart rate. In women further adjustment for postmenopausal status, intake of oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy was done
#Model 2 was additionally adjusted for arterial hypertension, waist-to-height ratio, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, family history of myocardial infarction or stroke, socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, depression, smoking prior to the examination, prevalent cardiovascular disease (compromising congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral artery disease), and medication use (diabetic drugs, antithrombotic agents, antihypertensives, diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blocker, agents acting on the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, and lipid modifying agents)