A Conflict Around Contentious Sotrastaurin-Practices

7 Some studies reported that smoking is associated with abdominal obesity,7 which would favour the development of the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that includes central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hypertension.8 9 Since other studies10 failed to find a positive association between cigarette smoking and abdominal obesity, this issue is still controversial and remains to be elucidated. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether cigarette smoking is associated with increased abdominal obesity and related metabolic changes in a sample of healthy Austrian adults. Methods Study population Participants were recruited VE-822 supplier among employees in a financial institution based in Vienna. Once a year the employees undergo a health screening at the company. After information on the purpose of the study and its procedures, they were invited to participate. Two days before the 2011 medical examination, they received a self-administered questionnaire, which was collected on the examination day. Of the 1247 employees who filled in the questionnaires (participation rate: approximately 80%), 261 were subsequently excluded: those who reported a history of cancer (20) or thyroid dysfunction (37), missing information on gender (3), age (1), anthropometric measurements (67), smoking status (80) and health status (24), pregnant women (3), individuals under nicotine replacement therapy at the time of the study Sotrastaurin manufacturer FMO4 (4), those with a body mass index (BMI) lower than 18.5?kg/m2 or greater than 40?kg/m2 (20) and those with a waist circumference (WC) lower than 60?cm (3). Data of 986 individuals (405 men and 581 women) aged 19�C65?years were included in the final analyses. All participants signed an informed consent form and the study protocol was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Anthropometric measurements BMI was calculated as the ratio of weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2). WC and hip circumferences (HC) were measured using a non-elastic flexible tape, with participants in light clothing without shoes: WC at the top of the right iliac crest, at the end of a normal expiration; HC at the largest posterior extension of the buttocks.11 Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was calculated as WC/HC, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as WC/height. Lifestyle and education Participants who answered ��no�� to the following questions: ��Have you ever smoked daily?��, ��Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes, cigar, pipes or other tobacco products in your entire life?��, ��Do you smoke now?�� were categorised as non-smokers. Individuals who reported smoking at the time of enrolment or quitted less than 1?year before were classified as smokers. Smokers included occasional (