Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for coronary spasm.

BACKGROUND Although there have been many studies on the risk factors for coronary artery disease, the etiology of coronary artery spasm has not yet been determined. METHODS AND RESULTS After diagnosis by coronary arteriography, various risk factors were compared between two groups of subjects using logistic regression analysis. The vasospasm group included 175 patients with angiographically determined coronary artery spasm but no coronary artery narrowing exceeding 25% of the luminal diameter. The control group comprised 176 subjects with completely normal coronary arteries and a negative response to ergonovine maleate. The adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for smoking as a risk factor for vasospasm was 2.41 and 1.53-3.82, respectively (p < 0.05). The adjusted odds ratios for total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index, calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis, were not statistically nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS Smoking appears to be a major risk factor for vasospastic angina without significant coronary narrowing. The other risk factors for coronary artery disease may not contribute to coronary vasospasm.