ASSESMENT OF LIVER FUNCTION TESTS IN CIGARETTE SMOKER

Abstract

Although cigarette smoking is known risk factors for systemic diseases, little is known about how they affect liver function, especially in Pakistani people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biochemical impacts of tobacco use on bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), three indicators of liver function, in adult smoking users. Over the course of six months, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology in Peshawar used a cross-sectional comparative design. Purposive sampling was used to select 79 participants, who were identified as current tobacco users and ranged in age from 15 to 75. Automatic analyzers were used to measure the serum levels of bilirubin, ALP, and ALT. SPSS v25.0 was used to analyze the data, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. According to the findings, 41 people had elevated ALT levels (>56 U/L), with the age group of 36 to 55 having the highest frequency. Seventy-three participants had elevated ALP levels, which may indicate hepatocellular or cholestatic stress. Only four of the 75 people had elevated bilirubin levels; the rest had levels within normal ranges (0.1–1.2 mg/dL). These results imply that tobacco use whether smoked is linked to notable changes in liver enzymes, especially elevated ALT and ALP, which indicate biliary dysfunction and hepatocellular damage. After quitting smoking, the biochemical alterations might be reversible and seem to be dose-dependent. This study emphasizes the necessity of routine liver function monitoring among smoking and users, as well as the need for greater awareness of tobacco's hepatotoxic potential. Tobacco cessation-focused public health initiatives may be essential in averting chronic x liver problems. These findings have significant ramifications for clinical practice and health policy, particularly in areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where tobacco products are widely used in Pakistan.