The Effect of Smoking Cessation on Changes in Blood Pressure and Incidence of Hypertension

Background: Smoking is one of the major factors causing atherosclerosis. It results in elevated blood flow and blood pressure (BP) inside vessels. Tobacco smoking in any form, due to injecting toxins into the body, causes the development of cardiovascular disorders. Accordingly, this study investigates the effects of cessation of smoking on BP changes and hypertension incidence. Materials and Methods: In the present cohort study, we assessed ۸۱۷۰ male workers in good health who worked for a steel manufacturing firm and underwent professional health checkups in ۲۰۱۹ at the company’s healthcare centers. They were reevaluated in ۲۰۲۱. The variables adjusted for baseline age, cigarette smoking, body mass index, exercise, alcohol consumption, systolic or diastolic BP, family history of hypertension, and changes in the body mass index along with alcohol consumption were investigated in the follow-up phase. Results: The adjusted relative risks of hypertension in subjects who had quit cigarette smoking for more than ۱ and ۱-۳ years was ۰.۶ (۹۵% confidence interval [CI], ۰.۲%, ۱.۹%) and ۱.۵ (۹۵% CI, ۰.۸%, ۲.۸%) and ۳.۵ (۹۵% CI, ۱.۷%, ۷.۴%) compared to the current smokers. The ascending trend of risk of hypertension for longer periods of cigarette smoking was observed in the subgroups of those who had maintained the weight as well as those who acquired high weight gain after smoking cessation. Conclusion: Smoking cessation may cause elevated BP, hypertension, or both.