EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON SOME COAGULATION PARAMETERS OF SMOKERS IN NNEWI METROPOLIS

Abstract

Background/Aim: Cigarette smoking has been shown to adversely affect coagulation parameters resulting in haemostatic complications. This was a case-control study designed to evaluate the coagulation profile of cigarette smokers in Nnewi metropolis. Method: A total of 116 subjects were recruited comprising 58 Cigarette smokers and 58 non-cigarette smokers. The age of the subjects, quantity of sticks per day and duration of smoking were obtained from the subjects using a questionnaire. Prothrombin time (PT) was estimated by the Calcium-thromboplastin method of Quick (1935), Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) by the method of Koepke (1986), platelet count was carried out by the routine ammonium oxalate method as described by Cheesbrough (2006) and fibrinogen level by Clauss method (1957). Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics committee of Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Informed consent was obtained from the subjects before being recruited for the study. Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the mean values of PT and APTT of smokers were significantly prolonged compared to non-smokers (P