ASSOCIATION OF AUTOANTIBODIES WITH SMOKING, CARDIOVASCULAR MORBIDITY, AND DEATH IN THE BUSSELTON POPULATION

Abstract

Among 3407 "normal" adults of Busselton, Western Australia, serum autoantibodies were found to be related to cigarette smoking, vascular disease, and subsequent mortality. Antinuclear autoantibodies (A.N.A.) were more common than expected in male and female smokers of all ages, while the prevalence of rheumatoid factor (R.F.) in men was increased in young smokers and older non-smokers. A.N.A. and R.F. were slightly more common than expected in women who had used oral contraceptives. Thyroid and gastric autoantibodies (T.G.A.), smooth-muscle antibody (S.M.A.), and A.N.A. were more common than expected amongst men, especially younger men, with angina or with symptoms of cerebrovascular disease..