Correlation of the Clinical and Angiographic Patterns of Coronary Artery Disease in Smokeless Tobacco Users and Smokers

Aim: To determine whether patients who use smokeless tobacco have different clinical and angiographic profiles of coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with smokers. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on 40 patients with CAD using smokeless tobacco products and 40 patients with CAD who were smokers. Demographic information, history, and present smoking status of tobacco were also obtained. As a means of determining the severity and extent of CAD in all patients, coronary angiography was performed as previously described. Blood samples were collected for lipid profile and fasting blood glucose, and other investigations were also given. Results: The angiographic characteristics also revealed no difference in single-, double-, and triple-vessel disease distribution between the two groups. Smokers consumed tobacco in a larger quantity and had a slightly higher proportion of more severe stenosis (>70%) compared to users of smokeless tobacco, but this was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: CAD risk profiles of smokeless tobacco users and smokers are comparable, thus establishing that smokeless tobacco has similar cardiovascular risk to tobacco smoking.