## 3 Results  
Baseline characteristics stratified by smoking status are presented in Table 1.  
Multiple significant between-group differences were observed. For example, the mean (SD) age in current smokers was 34.5 \(\pm\) 5.3 years; in past smokers, 35.8 \(\pm\) 4.9 years; and in  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Current Smokers N = 448**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Past Smokers**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Fagerström-Score**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Fagerström-Score \(\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{ }}}}}}}}}}}}}}\) & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Fagerström-Score \(\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \boldsymbol{ }}}}}}}}}}}}}}\)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Fagerström-Score \(\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{ \  
never smokers, 35.6 \(\pm\) 5.3 years. The prevalence in women was 58.1%, 51.7%, and 46.4% among never-, past-, and current smokers, respectively (\(p\) < 0.001). The median hs-cTnI levels were lower in the current smokers (0.67 ng/L) compared to that in never smokers (0.70 ng/L), and past smokers (0.69 ng/L), \(p\) = 0.04.  
Results from the linear regression analyses on the associations between smoking status and log-transformed hs-cTnI levels are shown in Table 2.  
Compared to never smokers, current smokers had significantly lower hs-cTnI levels (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] of \(-\)0.05 [\(-\)0.21; \(-\)0.02], \(p\) = 0.02); however, this difference was not statistically significant when compared with that for past smokers (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] of 0.14 [\(-\)0.07; \(-\)0.13], \(p\) = 0.54). After comprehensive adjustment for potential confounders, current smokers still had lower hs-cTnI levels compared to never smokers (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] \(-\)0.08 [\(-\)0.25; \(-\)0.08], \(p\) = <0.001). Again, no significant difference was observed between never smokers and past smokers (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] of \(-\)0.02 [\(-\)0.12; 0.05], \(p\) = 0.37).  
Analyses of the relationship between smoking intensity and log-transformed hs-cTnI levels are shown in Table 3.  
After adjustment for sex and age, smokers with >10 pack years had significantly lower hs-cTnI levels than never smokers (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] \(-\)0.09 [\(-\)0.40; \(-\)0.16], \(p\) < 0.001). Results remained very similar after additional multivariable adjustment (\(\beta\)-coefficient [95%CI] \(-\)0.08 [\(-\)0.36; \(-\)0.11], \(p\) < 0.001). The \(p\) value for trend across different categories of smoking intensity was highly significant (\(p\) < 0.001).  
Analyses of the relationship between Fagerstrom score and log-transformed hs-cTnI levels are shown in Table 4.  
Compared to never smokers, all the Fagerstrom groups presented lower hs-cTnI levels, with a significant \(p\)-value for trend across different categories.  
Analysis between the years of smoking cessation and hs-cTnI levels in the group of past smokers is shown in Table 5.  
Past smokers were further divided into three groups according to the number of years not smoked. In all adjusted models no significant difference in hs-cTnI levels of past smokers was found compared to never smokers.