Medical check-up of Biochemical Parameters for Polycythemic Patients Aimed to Improving Smoking Cessation

Abstract

Smoking should be considered at an early stage in the differential diagnosis of unexplained polycythemia and to avoid inappropriate treatment and also to motivate the patient to stop.
Fourty two patients with secondary polycythemia seen in the outpatient clinic of Baghdad teaching hospital, Medical City over the period from Jan.
2008 to Jan. 2010. Total number of patients was 42 patients; follow up was done only to 30 patients with secondary polycythemia who managed to reduce their
cigarette consumption. Many results were significantly different between heavy smokers and reduced smokers. The hematocrit, leukocyte count and levels of
total cholesterol, hemoglobin and triglyceride were significantly higher in heavy smokers, than light smokers, while the level of high-density lipoprotein cholestrol was significantly lower. The weight of the patients and their blood pressure were not changed befor and after reduce smoking. Secondary polycythemia and all related measurments are smoking-related abnormal finding; physicians should know the effects of smoking on medical check-up to improve their disease, prevention and health promotion activities.