Assessment of Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness and Lipid Profile in Term Neonates Born to Smoking Mothers

Background: It is well-known that cigarette smoke contains chemical substances, including nicotine and carbon monoxide, which can have harmful effects on cardiovascular function. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate and compare lipid levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CAIMT) among neonates born to smoking and nonsmoking mothers. Methods: This study was conducted on 40 term neonates (over 37 weeks of gestation) within the age range of 0 - 30 days born to smoking mothers (study group) and 34 term neonates born to nonsmoking mothers (control group). Both groups were assessed prospectively for triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and CAIMT. Results: There was no difference in the mean age of mothers between control and study groups (29.0 +/- 4.5 vs. 29.3 +/- 5.7 years; P = 0.31). The CAIMT was observed as similar between the groups (0.35 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.05 mm in control and study groups, respectively; P = 0.665). Although HDL-C levels were significantly lower in the study group (48.5 +/- 16.2 vs. 39.1 +/- 17.8 mg/dL; P = 0.021), no difference was observed in LDL-C, TC, and TG levels between the two groups. Conclusions: Based on the results, there were no differences in CAIMT and lipid profile other than low HDL levels between term neonates born to smoking mothers and neonates born to nonsmoking mothers. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which numerous factors play a role in the formation beginning in the fetal period and emerging with clinical findings in advanced age; therefore, it is required to perform further studies with longer follow-up and larger sample size to confirm the present study findings.