Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (Dec 2021)
Implications for comorbidities, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and inflammation in current smokers
Abstract
Background: Evaluate comorbidities, childhood abuse, and inflammation in current heavy-smokers compared to light-smokers and never-smokers. Methods: Current-Smokers (n = 129) and never-smokers (n = 85) were screened for the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances, and assessed for nicotine dependence and childhood trauma. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2), leptin, lipid hydroperoxide, and lipid profile biomarkers were measured after overnight fasting. Results: Current-smokers presented higher prevalence of major depressive disorder (PR = 1.79, CI 95% [1.36–2.37], p<0.001), alcohol problems (PR = 1.31, CI 95% [1.05–1.32], p<0.001), cancer disease (PR = 1.57, CI 95% [1.06–2.47], p<0.001), and maternal smoking during pregnancy (PR = 1.48, CI 95% [1.14–1.91], p<0.001) in comparison with never-smokers. Current-smokers showed significantly lower levels of leptin (p<0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p<0.001), higher Castelli risk indexes I and II (ps<0.001), and lipid hydroperoxide levels (p<0.001) than never-smokers. Among current-smokers, heavy-smokers also presented higher levels of sTNFR1 than light-smokers (p = 0.04). Limitations: This is an exploratory cross-sectional study which did not allow us to delineate associations or causality of the events. The group of never-smokers presented significantly more years of education than current-smokers. The age of our sample ranged from 18 to 65 years-old, which do not allow the generalization to older or younger population. Finally, maternal smoking was collected retrospectively based on participants’ reports. Conclusion: Our study suggests an opportunity to identify current-smokers who had co-occurring clinical and psychiatric comorbidities and childhood trauma, and to offer them the opportunity of personalized treatments.
