Cigarette smoking has long been considered to be a major risk factor for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). However, there is less research on whether or not the use of noncombustible tobacco is associated with an elevated risk of vascular disease.
A recent study was published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine that assessed the use of smokeless tobacco, and then associations with PAD events accrued after the smokeless tobacco use was assessed.
The study analyzed 14,344 participants:
- mean age was 54
- 54.8% female
- 26.4% black
The analysis found that the PAD incidence rate was 4.44 per 1,000 person year for users of smokeless tobacco, versus 1.94 for those who did not use smokeless tobacco. A 1.94 hazard ratio was calculated after adjusting for cigarette smoking and socioeconomic factors. In fact, the PAD incidence rate was similar to those who currently smoke cigarettes.
This study supports the need for healthcare professionals to recommend tobacco cessation interventions to help prevent PAD, or manage PAD in patients who already have the disease, regarding of whether they are smoking, or consuming tobacco in another form.
