Correlation of Smoking Intensity Scores and Total Serum Immunoglobulin E Level in Adult Male Smokers

Abstract

Background: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes an increase in the T-helper 2 immune response and elevates the formation of IgE by B cells and activation of eosinophils. Objectives: This study aims to determine the correlation between smoking intensity scores measured using the Brinkman Index and total serum Immunoglobulin E level. Methods: The study used an analytical cross-sectional design in a population of adult male smokers according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study evaluated the smoking intensity score on total serum Immunoglobulin E expression with control for age, gender, history of atopy, infection, and use of corticosteroids. Serum total IgE levels were examined by immunoradiometric assay using venous blood samples. Data were analyzed using correlation tests and multivariate analysis, linear regression tests with p <0.05 which was significant. Results: The study included 95 samples with a mean sample age of 31.38 ± 1.98 years. The mean Brinkman Index was 103.74 ± 74.47 with a mean total serum IgE level of 247.58 ± 354.58 kU/L. Of the total sample, there were 47 samples (49.5%) who were obese and 26 samples (27.4%) consumed alcohol. The correlation between the Brinkman index and IgE level based on the Spearman correlation test was obtained with a p-value <0.001. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the B coefficient value of the Brinkman Index was 0.880 with a p-value of <0.001. Meanwhile, no significant relationship was found between confounding variables and total serum IgE levels. Conclusion: The study found a strong correlation between total serum IgE levels in adult male smokers and the Brinkman Index. The higher the Brinkman Index, the higher the total serum IgE level.