The influence of age and smoking on hemostatic parameters in the chinese people.

Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI) antigen, fibrinogen, factor VII, cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and glucose were determined in 101 healthy subjects, who were divided into 10 subgroups according to age and smoking status. Factor VII and cholesterol were significantly higher in 50 healthy smokers than in the remaining 51 healthy non-smokers (p = 0.037 and 0.008, respectively). By dividing smokers and non-smokers each into 5 different age groups, we found that smoking could significantly increase PAI and/or factor VII, but not fibrinogen, in several age groups. On the other hand, age would significantly increase fibrinogen in either smokers or non-smokers, and this increase would be promoted by smoking. In conclusion, smoking could produce higher factor VII or PAI, whereas age could effect the significant increase of fibrinogen which was further promoted by smoking. Though aging cannot be avoided, smoking should be abstained especially in the old people to prevent the occurrence of thromboembolic diseases.