Mediation Role of C-Reactive Protein on the Association between Smoking Quantity and Type 2 Diabetes in Current Chinese Smokers

Abstract EN

Objective.

Previous studies have indicated that cigarette smokers are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and that both smoking and type 2 diabetes are associated with C-reactive protein (CRP).

This study examined whether CRP mediates the association between smoking quantity and type 2 diabetes.

Methods.

Nine hundred and eighty-four current Chinese smokers were selected from a community-based chronic disease survey conducted in Guangzhou and Zhuhai.

Type 2 diabetes was defined according to the WHO 1999 criteria.

CRP was measured with flow cytometry.

Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the mediation.

Results.

A positive association was observed between smoking quantity and type 2 diabetes (P<0.05).

After controlling for potential confounders, daily cigarette consumption was significantly associated with higher CRP levels.

Current smokers with type 2 diabetes had higher CRP levels than smokers without type 2 diabetes.

The association between the smoking quantity and type 2 diabetes was mediated by CRP, which accounted for 50.77% of the association.

Conclusions.

This study provides further evidence that smoking quantity is positively associated with type 2 diabetes and suggests that the association between smoking and type 2 diabetes might be mediated by CRP.