Smoking, coronary artery occlusion, and nonfatal myocardial infarction

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Abstract
The association of smoking with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) was studied in 3997 men who had coronary arteriography. The patients were subdivided into groups based on coronary occlusion (minimal, moderate or severe) and plasma cholesterol level (low, moderate or high). For men older than 50 yr, smoking was significantly associated with MI in each occlusion group. For men younger than 50 yr, the association was significant for men with moderate or severe occlusion. In the presence of higher cholesterol levels there was a stronger association of smoking with MI, but a weaker association of smoking with coronary occlusion. The association of smoking with MI did not depend primarily on the atherogenic effect of smoking. The association apparently was enhanced by high levels of coronary occlusion and cholesterol.