The Association Between Passive Smoking and Acute Coronary Heart Diseases among Arab Israeli Women in Northern Israel

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death western countries. The deleterious effect of exposure to passive smoking on many pathophysiological intermediaries of coronary heart disease (CHD) is as great as the effect of active smoking. Exposure of passive smoking has not been studied as an independent risk factor for CHD among Arab women. The study objectives were to examine the association between the exposure and different levels of exposure to passive smoking to CHD among Israeli Arab Women in the Northern Israel and, in addition, to examine the attitudes of Israeli Arab women toward passive smoking. Method: non-smoking Israeli Arab women were interviewed, using a general questionnaire and, passive smoking questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (Weight, BMI, and Waist/Hip ratio), blood pressure (HTN) and pulse were obtained during the interview. Results: A total of 146 women (73 cases, 73 controls) whom agreed to be interviewed (90.12% response rate). After adjustment for HTN, BMI>25 and Family history of CHD, the independent risk factors were: exposure to passive smoking during last five years of marriage (odds ratio (OR) 6.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.93-19 .3), exposure to passive smoking during 2-6 hours level a day (OR 5.67; 95% CI 1.48-21.73), exposure to passive smoking more than six hours a day (OR=26.11; 95% CI 4.26-159.91). In examining Arab women attitudes to smoking at home, in public places and at family events, women from the cases group significantly tended to agree more with the prevention and prohibition of smoking in these places. However, in assessing the ability to limit the smoking in their environment women from the cases group showed a weaker position than women from the control group. Conclusion: Among Arab Israeli women, passive smoking is a significant risk factor independently associated with coronary heart disease and with a positive dose-response relationship.