Aim: Smoking is accepted as a risk factor for primary chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and respiratory system diseases and for cancer development. The aim of this study was to indicate the increase in inflammation in smokers by using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)/Albumin ratio (AlbR).

Material and Methods: A total of 125 volunteers (M:81;65%, F:44;35%) were included in our study, including 60 people (M:42,F:18) with an average age of 37.52(±11.82) years in the smoking group and 65 healthy volunteers (M:39, F:26) with an average age of 35.32(±7.66) years in the control group. The complete blood count parameters, albumin, hs-CRP and hs-CRP/AlbR values of the two groups were compared.

Results: It was determined that hs-CRP (1.550±3.320) and hs-CRP/AlbR (35.90±75.61) values of the smoking group were higher than the hs-CRP (0.890±1.210) and hs-CRP/AlbR (20.13±30.38) of the control group (respectively;p=0.002, p=0.001). However, albumin values (4.37±0.34) were lower than that of the control group (4.58±0.37)(p<0.001). Leukocyte (WBC), erythrocyte (RBC), lymphocyte counts and hemoglobin levels of the smoking group were higher than the values of the control group (respectively; p=0.018, p=0.013, p=0.004). In the correlation analysis of the study group it was found that hs-CRP and hs-CRP/AlbR had correlations with age, duration of smoking, box/year, body mass index (BMI), WBC, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLO).

Conclusion: The smokers had increased levels of hs-CRP and hs-CRP/AlbR, which are an indicator of inflammation and this increase was found to be associated with the intensity and duration of smoking exposure. The hs-CRP and hs-CRP/AlbR levels in smokers may be an early indicator for risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer development in the future.