ASSESSMENT OF PLATELET COUNT AND PLATELET INDICES (MEAN PLATELET VOLUME, PLATELET DISTRIBUTION WIDTH, PLATELETCRIT) AMONG SMOKERS COMPARED TO NON – SMOKERS IN ALGAZIRA STATE - SUDAN 2026

Smoking contributes substantially to the global burden of cardiovascular disease through mechanisms including endothelial damage, oxidative stress, and increased platelet reactivity. Platelet indices, Platelet Count (PLT), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW), and Plateletcrit (PCT) are important indicators of platelet activation and thrombotic risk. However, data assessing these parameters in Sudanese smokers remain limited. This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out in Algazira State, Sudan from May to August 2026, and aimed to evaluate and compare platelet count and platelet indices (MPV, PDW, PCT) between adult male smokers and non-smokers. A total of 150 adult males were recruited, including 70 current cigarette smokers and 80 non-smokers as controls. Complete blood count parameters were measured using automated hematology analyzers. Data analyzed using SPSS version 26). Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) was significantly elevated in smokers compared to non-smokers. In contrast, no significant differences were found in Platelet Count, MPV or PCT. Moreover, within the smoker group, Spearman’s analysis showed no significant correlation between smoking duration or smoking intensity and any of the studied platelet indices (all p>0.05). In conclusion, among adult Sudanese males, cigarette smoking is associated with increased platelet size heterogeneity, as reflected by higher PDW levels. This suggests morphological and functional platelet alterations without significant changes in platelet count. PDW may thus represent a simple and cost-effective hematological marker for early detection of smoking-related platelet activation and thrombotic risk.