Durga Neupane

Nicotine Exposure, Blood Pressure, and Inflammation in Tobacco Smokers and Chewers in a Rural Community in Nepal

Tobacco consumption is high amongst the people of Nepal. This study was carried out in 2011 in a rural community of Nepal, to compare pathological parameters associated with tobacco use in relation to nicotine metabolism between smokers, chewers, and a control group. A total of 216 volunteers provided blood and urine samples for testing nicotine metabolites, C-reactive protein, and cell counts. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, correlation, and t-tests using STATA. Differences in blood pressure amongst the groups indicate a role of smoking in preventing a rise in BP with age, likely attributable to a different mechanism of metabolism of tobacco constituents.