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Smokers have a much earlier need for vascular stenting
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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The need for revascularization surgery may arise about 10 years earlier in smokers than in nonsmokers, according to researchers at Wayne State University College of Medicine, St. John's Hospital, Henry Ford Hospital, Sinai-Grace Hospital, and the University of Michigan Medical Center.
Well-known risk factors for heart failure and myocardial ischemia include smoking, diabetes, elevated lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides) or low HDL levels, as well as hypertension and obesity. Many patients with these conditions may require coronary angioplasty and stenting at some point in their lives. The researchers analyzed the demographic characteristics and prevalence of risks in patients with coronary heart disease and assessed the need for surgical intervention.
The study involved almost 70,000 men and over 38,000 women, among whom at least one risk factor for developing heart disease was present in 95% of cases (approximately half of the participants had three or more risk factors). It turned out that smoking patients were referred for angioplasty and stenting of coronary vessels approximately 10 years earlier than non-smoking patients. If we compare participants with such a risk factor as obesity, the difference here was approximately 4 years. In addition, scientists found that men had to undergo surgery earlier than women.
Smoking is a factor that can be controlled by the patient himself. He can always give up the bad habit, thereby prolonging the period favorable for health and delaying the onset of coronary pathology along with the need for surgical intervention. Some patients tend to think that 2-3 cigarettes a day will not cause significant harm to health, but they are mistaken. Any type of smoking, even passive inhalation of tobacco smoke, adversely affects the heart and blood vessels. It stimulates an increase in blood pressure, has a cardiotoxic effect, accelerates the growth of atherosclerotic changes, increases the risk of myocardial ischemia.
It is known that the risk factors mentioned above significantly increase the probability of developing coronary heart disease and atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries. If there is a threat to the patient's life, which usually occurs during myocardial infarction or pre-infarction conditions, doctors prescribe emergency stenting. Elective surgery is indicated when the blood flow in the affected arterial trunk decreases, provided that the reserve of drug therapy has been exhausted and the patient's quality of life has worsened.
Full details of the study are available on the Plos One publication page