The association between plasma levels of sCD40L,sP-selectin,and sICAM-1 and smoking-induced coronary heart disease: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the association between smoking and plasma levels of sCD40L, sP-selectin, and sICAM-1 in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to evaluate their correlations with smoking intensity and coronary anatomical complexity assessed by the SYNTAX score.

Methods

We analyzed data from 244 patients with CHD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, categorized into smokers (n = 150) and nonsmokers (n = 94). Smoking intensity was quantified using the smoking index (SI). Plasma biomarker levels were measured via ELISA. SYNTAX scores I and II were assessed by two experienced interventional cardiologists to evaluate coronary lesion complexity. Group comparisons, Spearman's correlation adjusted with the Benjamini-Hochberg method, tests for interaction (Gender × Smoking Status), and multivariate regression models were employed.

Results

Smokers exhibited significantly higher sICAM-1 levels than nonsmokers (662.6 vs. 548.6 ng/ml, P = 0.007). sICAM-1 was an independent risk factor for CHD in smokers (OR = 1.001, 95% CI: 1.00003–1.033, P = 0.043). Strong correlations were observed among all three biomarkers (all P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed significant correlations between SI and all three biomarkers, and both SI and sP-selectin correlated positively with SYNTAX scores I and II (all P < 0.01). Formal interaction analysis indicated no significant effect modification by gender on the observed associations (all P >> 0.05).

Conclusion

Elevated levels of sICAM-1, sCD40L, and sP-selectin are interrelated and associated with smoking intensity and coronary anatomical complexity, highlighting their role as key inflammatory mediators in smoking-related CHD.