Hemoglobin and C-reactive protein level among smoker and non-smoker individuals of Kathmandu valley, Nepal

Cigarette smoking contribute to the development or progression of numerous chronic and age related disease processes. One major risk factor for morbidity and mortality among smokers is cardiovascular disease and lungs cancer. Hematological abnormalities have been associated with coronary heart disease and other oxidative damage at the tissue level increasing in age is significantly associated with higher hemoglobin concentration and C-reactive protein reactivity. The aim of the study was to find out the level of hemoglobin (Hb) and reactivity of C-reactive protein (CRP) among smoker and non-smoker. A comparative cross sectional community based study was conducted in Kathmandu valley (Swoyambhu, Thankot, Bhaktapur and Balkumari).Other medical records was taken into account and was analyzed. Hemoglobin level of smoker and non-smoker was estimated and it was compared with the qualitative test of CRP. A total of 150 healthy people (both smoker and non-smoker) aged 15-65 years were enrolled in this study for assessment of Hb and CRP. Blood hemoglobin was measured in 150 samples by Cyanmethemoglobin method and reactivity of CRP by latex turbidmetric method. Data were expressed in percentage, mean +SD. There was significant difference in mean value of hemoglobin level between smoker and non-smoker with P value 0.005.The difference in the reactivity of serum CRP among smoker and non-smoker was not significant enough with P value >0.05. The present study showed that the hemoglobin level of smoker group was higher than the non-smoker group as well as CRP showed reactive comparatively more in smoker than the non-smoker.