RELATION BETWEEN SALIVA COTININE CONCENTRATION, CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION, AND BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG SMOKERS

Some epidemiologic studies(1,2) have observed a negative dose-response relation of lower blood pressure with a greater level of cigarette exposure, but others have not.(3,4) Findings of a negative association between smoking level and blood pressure are puzzling given that the acute effects of nicotine act to increase blood pressure.(5,6) To provide additional information on the nature of the dose-response relation between smoking exposure and blood pressure, we examined associations between cotinine concentration in saliva, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and blood pressure in a cross-sectional survey of normotensive smokers who were planning an unaided quit attempt.