Snus use and cardiovascular risk factors in the general population: the HUNT3 study.

• Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Snus, a form of smokeless tobacco, is increasingly popular in its traditional Nordic markets, and was recently launched commercially in the United States. We examined the cross-sectional associations between snus use and cardiovascular risk factors, and compared them with the corresponding associations of smoking. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The HUNT3 general population survey, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway (2006-08). PARTICIPANTS: A general population sample of n=25163. MEASUREMENTS: Measured triglyceride,- glucose- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels, blood pressure and waist circumference, registry information on gender, age and education level, self-reported snus use, smoking, physical exercise and alcohol use. FINDINGS: In age- and gender-adjusted linear regression analyses, extensive snus use was associated with larger waist circumference (b=1.65, 95% CI=0.86, 2.43) and higher systolic blood pressure (b=2.58, 95% CI=1.48, 3.68), but with higher rather than lower levels of HDL-cholesterol (b=1.66, 95% CI=0.79, 2.53). These three differences remained significant after additional adjustment for smoking, education level, physical exercise and alcohol use. Smokers had higher triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol than snus users, but lower systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting statistically for major confounding variables, Norwegians who use snus extensively have a mixed profile in terms of cardiovascular risk: slightly higher waist circumference and systolic blood pressure but also higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cardiovascular risk

smokeless tobacco

smoking

snus

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)