Subjective Health of Male Ex-Smokers: Relationship with Time Since Smoking Cessation, Intensity and Duration of Tobacco Consumption

Author： Díez-Gañán L. Guallar-Castillón P. Banegas Banegas J.R. Lafuente Urdinguio P.J. Fernández E. González Enríquez J. Rodríguez-Artalejo F.

Publisher： Academic Press

ISSN： 0091-7435

Source： Preventive Medicine, Vol.35, Iss.4, 2002-10, pp. : 320-325

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Abstract

Background. To examine the relationship of subjective health with time since smoking cessation and amount and duration of tobacco consumption among male ex-smokers.Methods. Pooled analysis of three household interview surveys conducted in 1993 (n = 8,494), 1995 (n = 2,556), and 1997 (n = 2,624) on samples representative of the noninstitutionalized population aged 16 and over in Spain.Results. After controlling for the main confounders, ex-smokers with smoking burden ≤13 pack-years had a lower frequency of suboptimal health (fair, poor, or very poor) than current smokers (OR, 0.59; 95% Cl, 0.38–0.91) during the first year after cessation; thereafter, it reached a value similar to that of never-smokers 11 years or more after cessation. Among those with burden >13 pack-years, frequency of suboptimal health during the first year after cessation was higher than in current smokers (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.00–1.63). Afterwards, it fell progressively, approaching the value of never-smokers 11 years or more after cessation. Frequency of suboptimal health in ex-smokers increased with duration (years) of smoking (P linear trend = 0.045), but did not vary with the number of cigarettes smoked.Conclusions. Suboptimal health declined with time since smoking cessation, to reach the frequency of never-smokers. Longer duration of tobacco consumption is associated with worse subjective health. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).