Relationship between Early Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Intima Media Thickness (IMT) in COPD patients

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We hypothesized that COPD from early exposure to tobacco smoke may cause an increase of the intima media thickness (IMT) that correlates with the increase in the prevalence of smoke-related vascular comorbidities such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We divided potential subjects from the Erimo town clinic into three groups. A total of 152 subjects were enrolled into the study after informed consents were obtained. Groups with a history of COPD tended to have higher maximum values of IMT when compared with a group without COPD. Furthermore, Group 1 demonstrated highest value of IMT. In subjects with COPD, early smoke exposure promoted atherosclerotic changes, which may increase the likelihood of smoke-related vascular comorbidities such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.