Effect of smoking on Red Blood Cells Count, Hemoglobin Concentration and Red Cell indices

Background. Cigarette smoking contributes 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 lung cancer. Hematological abnormalities have been associated with coronary heart disease and other oxidative damage at the tissue levels increasing in age is significantly associated with higher heamoglobin concentrations. Aim: To see the effects of smoke on RBCs count, HB concentration and RBCs Indices and to compare them with other countries to create awareness in public and plan launching anti-smoking campaigns. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was done to investigate the relationship between cigarette smoking and heamoglobin concentrations, red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, in comparison with age 20-60 years. The study included 100 male (50) smokers and (50) nonsmokers. They were selected among the staff and students of colleges of Tehsil Liaquatpur who had been smoking for the last five and more years. Results: In this study the values of Hb, RBCs count, HCT (PCV) and Red Cell indices in age matched smokers were compared with non-smokers. The results regarding values of Hemoglobin, RBC Count, PCV, and MCH show significant increase of various degrees (p<0.5, 0.01 or 0.001) in the different groups of smokers as compared to non-smokers of same age groups while the increase in values of MCV and MCHC is found less marked and non-significant (p> 0.05). Conclusion: It has been concluded that smoking causes persistent state of hypoxia in the body due to smoke contents which cause increase in erythrocyte count, Hb and Red cell Indices