Smoking and diabetes in Chinese men

Smoking is a major cardiovascular risk factor and cause of death. Diabetes mellitus is also associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. Evid ence concerning whether smoking increases the incidence of diabetes remains conflicting. Glycaemic status and smoking habits were analysed in 3718 Chi nese subjects in order to assess the possible association between smoking a nd risk of diabetes in the Chinese population. The World Health Organisatio n 1998 criteria were used for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance. Smoking was defined as current cigarette smoking or ex-smoking without regard to d aily consumption. The smoking habits of the studied subjects were correlate d with glycaemic status. There were 3003 (80.8%) women and 715 (19.2%) men. The mean age (SD) was 38.4 (12.8) years (median 35.0, range 12-88 years). Of the 3718 subjects, 786 (21.1%) had diabetes, 708 (19.1%) had impaired gl ucose tolerance, and 2224 (59.8%) had normal results. Of the 3003 women, on ly 87 (2.9%) were smokers. The female smokers were younger, heavier, and ha d higher alcohol consumption than non-smokers. The prevalence of diabetes w as similar between female smokers and non-smokers after adjustment for age, body mass index, family history of diabetes, and alcohol. Of the 715 men, 175 (24.5%) were smokers. The male smokers were younger, had lower blood pr essure, and higher alcohol consumption. After adjustment for age, body mass index, family history of diabetes and alcohol, the male smokers had lower blood pressure, higher one hour plasma glucose, and more diabetes. Using lo gistic regression analysis (stepwise forward) with age, body mass index, al cohol, smoking, and family history of diabetes as independent variables to predict the risk of having diabetes, age and body mass index are independen tly associated with diabetes in both men and women. In addition, smoking is independently associated with the risk of diabetes in men, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) being 1.705 (1.106 to 2.630). Family history of diabetes is independently associated with the risk of diabetes in women, and the odds ratio (95% CI) is 1.643 (1.314, to 2.053). In conclusion, it was found that smoking is independently associated with diabetes after adju stment for age, body mass index, alcohol, and family history of diabetes in Hong Kong Chinese men, the odds ratio being 1.7. The prevalence of smoking in I-Pong Kong Chinese women is low and its association with diabetes is i nconclusive.