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Smoking Prevalence (smoking + prevalence)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	86%
Humanities and Social Sciences	5%
3 Other Domains	9%

Selected Abstracts

A COMPARISON OF THE FAGERSTRÖM TEST FOR NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AND SMOKING PREVALENCE ACROSS COUNTRIES: UPDATED DATA FROM SPAIN

ADDICTION, Issue 2 2009
MARCELA FU
No abstract is available for this article. [source]

Linkage between smoking and asthma

ALLERGY, Issue 12 2009
A. Pietinalho
Smoking is one of the most important preventable public health problems. Prevalence of smoking is decreasing in the Western world but lot of work is left. We reviewed the most important papers related to smoking and asthma. Despite of decreasing smoking figures in Finland, about 15,20 per cent of pregnant women smokes. Children's exposure to harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) still continues. Exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy and in early childhood both deteriorates permanently children's lungs and increases their asthma risk. The exposure of adults to ETS also increases their asthma risk. Both passive exposure to ETS and active smoking worsen asthma. In addition, smoking asthmatics run a higher risk of developing COPD compared to non-smokers. Smoking prevalence among the population can be regulated through legislation, but the health care personnel have a central role in encouraging smoking cessation among smoking patients. [source]

Birth Cohort Effects on Incidence of Lung Cancers: A Population-based Study in Nagasaki, Japan

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 10 2000
Hiroshi Soda
Smoking prevalence remains high (around 60%) among Japanese males, but smoking initiation among males born in the 1930s decreased by approximately 10% due to economic difficulties following World War II. The present study was designed to examine whether this temporary decline in smoking initiation influenced the subsequent incidence of lung cancers, especially adenocarcinoma. Trends of lung cancer incidence by histological type in both sexes were investigated using data from the population-based cancer registry in Nagasaki, Japan, from 1986 through 1995. During this period, 5668 males and 2309 females were diagnosed as having lung cancer, and the overall incidence of lung cancers among both sexes remained stable. However, males aged 55,59 years showed a decrease in the age-specific incidence of adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). In birth cohort analyses, the incidence of adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma was lower in the 1935,1939 birth male cohort than in the successive cohorts. The incidence of lung cancers among females with low smoking prevalence did not change with birth cohort. The low smoking initiation among the 1935,1939 birth male cohort appeared to have resulted in a decreased incidence of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma among middle-aged Japanese males. The present study suggests that smoking prevention has an effect in reducing the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma, as well as squamous-cell carcinoma, among smokers. [source]

Cancer incidence in patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives , a meta-analysis

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2008
V. S. Catts
Objective:, Controversy concerning cancer incidence in schizophrenia exists because of heterogeneous study findings. Method:, A meta-analysis was performed on standardized incidence ratios (SIR) of cancer in patients with schizophrenia and first-degree relatives and compared with general population samples. Results:, The pooled overall cancer incidence in patients was not significantly increased (SIR = 1.05, CI 0.95,1.15). Lung cancer incidence was slightly increased (SIR = 1.31, CI 1.01,1.71), but was reduced after adjusting for smoking prevalence. The incidence of several cancers unrelated to smoking was reduced in patients. Breast cancer rates were significantly increased in female patients. The pooled overall cancer incidence in siblings (SIR = 0.89, CI 0.84,0.94) and parents (SIR = 0.90, CI 0.88,0.93) was significantly reduced. A meta-regression detected a significant relationship between cancer risk in the general population and relative risk in patients. Conclusion:, The meta-analysis aided exploration of inconsistent study findings. There is a discrepancy between cancer risk exposure and cancer incidence in schizophrenia consistent with a protective effect. [source]

Reflections on 30 + years of smoking cessation research: from the individual to the world

DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 1 2006
HARRY A. LANDO PhD
Abstract This is a personal retrospective in which I describe my career as a smoking cessation researcher and place cessation into an overall perspective of tobacco reduction. I spent approximately the first 15 years focusing primarily upon small group approaches to cessation emphasising relatively intensive behavioural interventions. It became apparent, however, that these types of approaches in isolation, even if broadly disseminated, would have relatively minimal impact on overall tobacco use. In part because I became discouraged with the potential of group programmes to reduce overall smoking prevalence, I began to focus more on population-based studies, especially in the context of ,teachable moments' including pregnancy, hospitalisation, forced abstinence in the military and existing smoking-related disease. I became concerned especially with the fact that there has been relatively little work with hard-core medically compromised smokers. It also became apparent that promoting cessation would be most likely to be effective with a comprehensive evidence-based tobacco reduction strategy including school and community-based prevention programmes, enforcement of ordinances restricting minors' access to tobacco, restrictions on tobacco advertising and promotion, counter advertising and strong smoke-free policies. In recent years I have become very concerned about the overall global tobacco epidemic and the projections of dramatically increasing tobacco morbidity and mortality in developing countries. I am now devoting my primary career emphasis to global tobacco reduction initiatives, including cessation research in India and Indonesia, cessation as part of broader tobacco reduction strategies and networking to increase resources and emphasis devoted to global tobacco reduction. [source]

Predicting the life-time benefit of school-based smoking prevention programmes

ADDICTION, Issue 6 2010
Mark Jit
ABSTRACT Aim School-based smoking prevention programmes may delay the age of smoking initiation, but do not appear to achieve lasting reductions in smoking prevalence beyond school-leaving age. We explored whether delaying the age at which someone initiates smoking may have life-time benefits by increasing the likelihood of quitting in later life. Design and setting Data from the General Household Survey of Great Britain were used in a logistic regression model to examine the association between age at which someone initiates regular smoking and the probability that the person will quit smoking later in life. The effect of confounding variables (sex, ethnicity, socio-economic class, education and geographical location) was taken into account. The predicted relationship was used in a cohort model to estimate the life-time reduction in smoking prevalence and all-cause mortality of a school-based smoking prevention programme. Results Age of regular smoking initiation was associated strongly with the probability of quitting later in life (coefficient ,0.103, P < 0.001). The strength of the association was slightly reduced but still significant when confounding variables were included (coefficient ,0.075, P < 0.001). An intervention that delays smoking initiation without decreasing smoking prevalence at age 18 may reduce adult smoking prevalence by 0.13,0.32% (depending on age) and all-cause mortality by 0.09% over the life-time of the sample. Conclusion School-based smoking prevention programmes have potential for a beneficial effect over the life-time of the participants even if they have no apparent effect at school-leaving age. [source]

Association between tobacco control policies and smoking behaviour among adolescents in 29 European countries

ADDICTION, Issue 11 2009
Anne Hublet
ABSTRACT Aims To investigate the associations between well-known, cost-effective tobacco control policies at country level and smoking prevalence among 15-year-old adolescents. Design Multi-level modelling based on the 2005,06 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study, a cross-national study at individual level, and with country-level variables from the Tobacco Control Scale and published country-level databases. Setting Twenty-nine European countries. Participants A total of 25 599 boys and 26 509 girls. Main outcome measures Self-reported regular smoking defined as at least weekly smoking, including daily smoking (dichotomous). Findings Interaction effects between gender and smoking policies were identified, therefore boys and girls were analysed separately. Large cross-national differences in smoking prevalence were documented. Intraclass correlations (ICC) of 0.038 (boys) and 0.035 (girls) were found. In the final multi-level model for boys, besides the significance of the individual variables such as family affluence, country-level affluence and the legality of vending machines were related significantly to regular smoking [b(country affluence) = ,0.010; b(partial restriction vending machines) = ,0.366, P < 0.05]. Price policy was of borderline significance [b(price policy) = ,0.026, P = 0.050]. All relationships were in the expected direction. The model fit is not as good for girls; only the legality of vending machines had a borderline significance in the final model [b(total ban vending machines) = ,0.372, P = 0.06]. Conclusions For boys, some of the currently recommended tobacco control policies may help to reduce smoking prevalence. However, the model is less suitable for girls, indicating gender differences in the potential efficacy of smoking policies. Future research should address this issue. [source]

Cigarettes and social differentiation in France: is tobacco use increasingly concentrated among the poor?

ADDICTION, Issue 10 2009
Patrick Peretti-Watel
ABSTRACT Aims This paper aimed to assess whether the increase of social differentiation of smoking is observed in France. Design and setting Five cross-sectional telephone surveys conducted in France between 2000 and 2007. Participants The surveys were conducted among national representative samples of French subjects aged 18,75 years (n = 12 256, n = 2906, n = 27 499, n = 2887, n = 6007 in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively). We focused on three groups: executives, manual workers and the unemployed. Measurements Time trends of smoking prevalence were assessed, and socio-economic factors (especially occupation and job status) associated with smoking were identified and compared in 2000 and 2005. We also computed respondents' equivalized household consumption (EHI) and their cigarette budget to assess the financial burden of smoking. Findings Between 2000 and 2007, smoking prevalence decreased by 22% among executive managers and professionals and by 11% among manual workers, and did not decrease among the unemployed. Indicators of an underprivileged social situation were associated more markedly with smoking in 2005 than in 2000. In addition, the falling-off of smoking initiation occurred later and was less marked among manual workers than it was among executive managers and professionals. Finally, in 2005 15% of French smokers devoted at least 20% of their EHI to the purchase of cigarettes, versus only 5% in 2000, and smoking weighted increasingly heavily on the poorest smokers' budgets. Conclusions While these results point out an increased social differentiation in tobacco use, they underline the need to design and implement other forms of action to encourage people to quit, in particular targeting individuals belonging to underprivileged groups. [source]

Comparing the effects of entertainment media and tobacco marketing on youth smoking in Germany

ADDICTION, Issue 5 2009
James D. Sargent
ABSTRACT Aims To examine differential effects of smoking in films and tobacco advertising on adolescent smoking. We hypothesize that movie smoking will have greater effects on smoking initiation, whereas tobacco advertising receptivity will primarily affect experimentation. Design Longitudinal observational study of adolescents. Setting School-based surveys conducted in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Participants A total of 4384 adolescents age 11,15 years at baseline and re-surveyed 1 year later; ever smoking prevalence was 38% at time 1. Measurements The main outcome variable combined two items assessing life-time and current smoking (alpha = 0.87). Baseline never smokers were analyzed separately from those who had tried smoking (ever smokers). Exposure to smoking in 398 internationally distributed US movies was modeled as a continuous variable, with 0 corresponding to the 5th percentile and 1 to the 95th percentile of exposure. Tobacco marketing receptivity consisted of naming a brand for a favorite tobacco advertisement. Ordinal logistic regressions controlled for socio-demographics, other social influences, personality characteristics of the adolescent and parenting style. Findings Whereas 34% of ever smokers were receptive to tobacco marketing at time 1, only 6% of never smokers were. Among time 1 never smokers, exposure to movie smoking was a significantly stronger predictor of higher time 2 smoking level [adjusted proportional odds ratio = 2.76, 95% confidence interval (1.84, 4.15)] than was tobacco marketing receptivity (1.53 [1.07, 2.20]). Among time 1 ever smokers, both tobacco marketing receptivity and exposure to movie smoking predicted higher levels of time 2 smoking [2.17 (1.78, 2.63) and 1.62 (1.18, 2.23), respectively], and the two estimates were not significantly different. Conclusions In this longitudinal study, exposure to movie smoking was a stronger predictor of smoking initiation than tobacco marketing receptivity, which was more common among ever smokers. The results suggest that entertainment media smoking should be emphasized in programs aimed at preventing onset, and both exposures should be emphasized in programs aimed at experimental smokers. [source]

Perceived peer smoking prevalence and its association with smoking behaviours and intentions in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

ADDICTION, Issue 9 2004
Man Kin Lai
ABSTRACT Background Among the many personal, social and environmental risk factors of adolescence smoking, normative beliefs stand out for their potential to be modified with factual information on smoking prevalence. Aims To study the perceived peer smoking prevalence and its association with smoking behaviours in Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Design and setting Cross-sectional territorial-wide school-based survey conducted in 64 randomly selected secondary schools in Hong Kong. Participants A total of 13 280 forms 1,3 students (equivalent to grades 7,9 in the United States) aged 12,16 years. Measurements Perceived peer smoking prevalence, smoking status, intention to smoke in future, other smoking-related factors and demographic information. Findings Overestimation of peer smoking prevalence was observed regardless of gender and smoking status, and was more common in girls (69.4%) than boys (61.0%), and in experimental (74.3%) and current smokers (85.4%) than in never smokers (60.7%). Boys who overestimated and grossly overestimated (over two times) peer smoking were more likely to be current smokers, with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of 1.95 (1.24,3.07) and 3.52 (2.37,5.24) (P for trend <0.001). Similarly, boys who grossly overestimated peer smoking were 76% (95% CI: 41,120%) more likely to have ever smoked. Conclusion Overestimation of peer smoking prevalence was common in Hong Kong Chinese boys and girls, and was associated with current and ever smoking in boys. These findings have important implications on normative education in adolescence smoking prevention programmes. [source]

Analyzing the Relationship Between Smoking and Coronary Heart Disease at the Small Area Level: A Bayesian Approach to Spatial Modeling

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2006
Jane Law
We model the relationship between coronary heart disease and smoking prevalence and deprivation at the small area level using the Poisson log-linear model with and without random effects. Extra-Poisson variability (overdispersion) is handled through the addition of spatially structured and unstructured random effects in a Bayesian framework. In addition, four different measures of smoking prevalence are assessed because the smoking data are obtained from a survey that resulted in quite large differences in the size of the sample across the census tracts. Two of the methods use Bayes adjustments of standardized smoking ratios (local and global adjustments), and one uses a nonparametric spatial averaging technique. A preferred model is identified based on the deviance information criterion. Both smoking and deprivation are found to be statistically significant risk factors, but the effect of the smoking variable is reduced once the confounding effects of deprivation are taken into account. Maps of the spatial variability in relative risk, and the importance of the underlying covariates and random effects terms, are produced. We also identify areas with excess relative risk. [source]

The effect of smoking on the male excess of bladder cancer: A meta-analysis and geographical analyses

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2009
Marjolein Hemelt
Abstract Smoking is considered the primary risk factor for bladder cancer. Although smoking prevalence and bladder cancer incidence vary around the world, bladder cancer is on average 4 times more common in males than in females. This article describes the observed male,female incidence ratio of bladder cancer for 21 world regions in 2002 and 11 geographical areas during the time period 1970,1997. A meta-analysis, including 34 studies, was performed to ascertain the increased risk for bladder cancer in males and females when smoking. The summary odds ratios (SORs) calculated in the meta-analysis were used to estimate the male,female incidence ratio of bladder cancer that would be expected for hypothetical smoking prevalence scenarios. These expected male,female incidence ratios were compared with the observed ratios to evaluate the role of smoking on the male excess of bladder cancer. The male,female incidence ratio of bladder cancer was higher than expected worldwide and over time, based on a smoking prevalence of 75% in males, 10% in females and an increased risk (SOR) of bladder cancer associated with smoking of 4.23 for males and 1.35 for females, respectively. This implied that, at least in the Western world, smoking can only partially explain the difference in bladder cancer incidence. Consequently, other factors are responsible for the difference in bladder cancer incidence. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in 55- and 35-year-old men and women in Sweden and Estonia

JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2002
J. Johansson
Abstract., Johansson J, Viigimaa M, Jensen-Urstad M, Krakau I I, Hansson L-O (Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia). Risk factors for coronary heart disease in 55- and 35-year-old men and women in Sweden and Estonia. J Intern Med 2002; 252:551,560. Objective., To illustrate the geographical West-to-East division of coronary heart disease (CHD) by comparing a population from Sweden, that represents a Western country to a population from Estonia, that represents an Eastern country. Estonia has an approximately 2,4-fold higher CHD prevalence for 55-year-old women and men, respectively, than Sweden. Design., Randomized screening of 35- and 55-year-old men and women in Sollentuna county, Sweden and Tartu county, Estonia. Eight hundred subjects, 100 from each cohort, were invited to participate in the study, 272 Swedes and 277 Estonians participated. Setting., Preventive cardiology, administered by a primary health care centre at the Karolinska Hospital, Sweden and a cardiology centre at Tartu University Hospital, Estonia. Main outcome measures., The CHD risk factors (smoking, blood pressure, concentrations of lipoproteins, fibrinogen, and glucose) and certain environmental factors and attitudes related to CHD risk by questionnaires (fat-type and alcohol ingestion, self-assessed rating of CHD susceptibility). Results., Of the 55-year-old men, 57% smoked in Estonia and 20% smoked in Sweden. Similar, although less pronounced differences showing higher smoking prevalence, were seen for 35-year-old Estonian men and women, whilst for 55-year-old women, less than 20% smoked in either country. Estonian 55-year-old women had lower HDL cholesterol and higher LDL cholesterol serum concentrations than Swedish 55-year-old women. Estonians reportedly ate food containing more saturated fats than Swedes, as indicated by the scale-score questionnaire. Estonians, relative to Swedes, rated their chance of developing CHD higher, and paradoxically, Estonians did to a much lesser degree believe that life style influences the risk of developing CHD. Conclusions., Elevated smoking prevalence is a striking difference between the Estonian and Swedish populations likely to explain the much higher CHD prevalence in Estonian men. The lower HDL cholesterol and higher LDL cholesterol in Estonian 55-year-old women may explain the higher CHD prevalence in Estonian women. Furthermore, the SWESTONIA CHD study (i.e. comparison between Sweden and Estonia) shows several environmental differences between the countries populations related to fat content in food, alcohol drinking patterns, and views on CHD risk and the importance of lifestyle intervention, that could contribute to the higher CHD prevalence in Estonia. [source]

Spatial Scale and the Geography of Tobacco Smoking in New Zealand: A Multilevel Perspective

NEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHER, Issue 2 2003
GRAHAM MOON
ABSTRACT Smoking in New Zealand is more common in deprived areas and in areas with a significant Maori population. Despite its status as a major health problem there has been little work investigating this apparent geography of smoking Data from the 1996 Census is used to construct a multilevel ,proportions-as-responses' model of smoking prevalence. This enables an exploration of the geography of smoking at different spatial scales. Levels within the model distinguish contextual variation between local authorities, census area units and meshblocks. Particular account is taken of the influence of deprivation and ethnicity on smoking. Results confirm the importance of ethnicity and deprivation and indicate that cross-level interaction between meshblock and census area unit measures is significant. They also challenge crude stereotypes about the apparent geography of smoking and suggest that, while levels of smoking may be high in parts of North Island, they are less high than might be expected given the socio-demographic composition of the areas concerned. Conversely, smoking is more prevalent than expected in parts of South Island. The paper notes the health policy implications of these emergent geographies. [source]

Smoking and the Asian American workforce in the National Latino and Asian American Study

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2010
A.B. de Castro PhD, MSN/MPH
Abstract Background Smoking among the Asian American workforce has not been extensively researched. This study examines smoking prevalence among a nationally representative sample of Asian Americans with an emphasis on occupational classification. Methods Cross-sectional data come from the National Latino and Asian American Study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine smoking prevalence by occupation, gender, and nativity, among 1,528 participants self-identifying as in the labor force. Results Blue collar workers reported the highest smoking prevalence (32%) followed by unemployed (19%), other (17%), service (14%), and white collar (10%). Among both employed males and females, blue collar workers had the highest prevalence (45% and 18%, respectively). By nativity, smoking was highest among blue collar workers for immigrants (25%) and highest among the unemployed for U.S. born (16%). Blue collar employment was significantly associated with being a current smoker (OR,=,2.52; 95% CI: 1.23,5.16; P,<,0.05) controlling for demographics (e.g., age, gender, ethnic group, nativity, etc.). Conclusions Findings reveal that smoking differs by occupation among Asian Americans. Future research should examine factors explaining differences while considering gender and nativity. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:171,178 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Validation Study of Genetic Associations with Coronary Artery Disease on Chromosome 3q13-21 and Potential Effect Modification by Smoking

ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, Issue 6 2009
Benjamin D. Horne
Summary The CATHGEN study reported associations of chromosome 3q13-21 genes (KALRN, MYLK, CDGAP, and GATA2) with early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD). This study attempted to independently validate those associations. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined (rs10934490, rs16834817, rs6810298, rs9289231, rs12637456, rs1444768, rs1444754, rs4234218, rs2335052, rs3803, rs2713604) in patients (N = 1618) from the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study (IHCS). Given the higher smoking prevalence in CATHGEN than IHCS (41% vs. 11% in controls, 74% vs. 29% in cases), smoking stratification and genotype-smoking interactions were evaluated. Suggestive association was found for GATA2 (rs2713604, p = 0.057, OR = 1.2). Among smokers, associations were found in CDGAP (rs10934490, p = 0.019, OR = 1.6) and KALRN (rs12637456, p = 0.011, OR = 2.0) and suggestive association was found in MYLK (rs16834871, p = 0.051, OR = 1.8, adjusting for gender). No SNP association was found among non-smokers, but smoking/SNP interactions were detected for CDGAP (rs10934491, p = 0.017) and KALRN (rs12637456, p = 0.010). Similar differences in SNP effects by smoking status were observed on re-analysis of CATHGEN. CAD associations were suggestive for GATA2 and among smokers significant post hoc associations were found in KALRN, MYLK, and CDGAP. Genetic risk conferred by some of these genes may be modified by smoking. Future CAD association studies of these and other genes should evaluate effect modification by smoking. [source]

Smoking is a major risk factor for wound dehiscence after midline abdominal incision; case,control study

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 4 2009
Saleh M. Abbas
Abstract Background:, The incidence of acute fascial wound dehiscence (AFWD) after major abdominal operations is as high as 3%. AFWD is associated with mortality rates of 15,20%. Male gender, advanced age and numerous systemic factors including malignancy hypoproteinemia and steroid use have been associated with increased risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between smoking prevalence and AFWD. Methods:, Middlemore Hospital records were retrieved from the 1997,2006 period for patients who had undergone midline abdominal surgery and developed AFWD. A return to the operating theatre for closure of the fascial dehiscence was required for study group inclusion. Each patient in the study group was matched to two control patients who had been admitted in the same year for surgery and who had a similar initial surgical intervention. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, representing the risk of developing fascial wound dehiscence in smokers compared with the non-smoking group. Results:, There were 52 patients (32 male, 20 female) and 104 controls (64 male, 40 female). Median age for both groups was 63 years. A history of heavy tobacco use (,20 pack-years) was more prevalent in those who had AFWD (46%) compared with the control group (16%; P = 0.0002; odds ratio 3.7). Conclusions:, Smoking is associated with an increased incidence of acute fascial wound dehiscence following laparotomy. It is not known whether smoking is a causal or a surrogate factor. [source]

Balancing absolute and relative risk reduction in tobacco control policy: the example of antenatal smoking in Victoria, Australia

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2010
Nathan Grills
Abstract Objective: This descriptive epidemiological analysis aims to explore the benefits, risks and policy balance between a whole-of-population and high-risk reduction approach to reducing antenatal smoking prevalence. Methods: Using Victorian hospital antenatal statistics the rate-ratio for smoking in each hypothesised high prevalence group was calculated and combined with the absolute number of births in each high-risk group. The effect on smoking prevalence of whole-of-population reductions and high-risk group reductions was then modelled. Results: In Victoria, there were higher rates of antenatal smoking among single [RR = 4.67 (3.46,4.42)], teenage women [RR (95%CI) = 3.26 (3.00,3.54)] of indigenous ethnicity [RR = 4.39 (3.94, 4.88)] with low income [RR = 4.67 (4.17,5.22)] and low education attainment [RR = 3.89 (3.47,4.36)] who lived in less accessible areas [RR = 2.14 (1.92,2.39)]. However, as each of these high-risk groups represents a relatively small proportion of mothers, most antenatal smokers are aged 25,34, educated, city-based, non-Indigenous and non-impoverished. Conclusions: The majority of Victorian women who smoke in pregnancy do not belong to traditional high-risk groups. Implications: Absolute reductions in smoking prevalence in high-risk groups can potentially be achieved by whole-of-population prevalence reductions, despite a potential continuance in high relative risk among these groups. Conversely, an exclusive focus on smoking reduction in high-risk groups may fail to reduce the whole-of-population antenatal smoking prevalence. [source]

Low daily smoking estimates derived from sales monitored tobacco use in six remote predominantly Aboriginal communities

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2010
Rosalind Butler
Abstract Objective: To estimate daily cigarette consumption among residents aged 15+ in five remote central Australian predominantly Aboriginal communities. Methods: Estimation of average daily cigarette consumption derived from a 12-month (2007) complete sales audit of cigarettes in isolated communities where no other tobacco supplies are available, using two assumptions of smoking prevalence (50% and 70%). Results: Across the five communities, daily smoking consumption averaged 8.3 cigarettes per day (assuming a 50% smoking prevalence) or 5.9 cigarettes per day (assuming a 70% smoking prevalence). The corresponding amounts spent per smoker per day were $4.13 or $2.95, representing 12.7%-9.1% of the maximum $453.30 per fortnight unemployment allowance for a single person. Conclusion: While smoking prevalence may be high in these Aboriginal communities, smoking frequency is low compared to that in the wider Australian community. These results are consistent with other studies. Approaches to cessation premised on assumptions of nicotine dependence in such populations are likely to be misconceived. [source]

Do low control response rates always affect the findings?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009
Assessments of smoking, obesity in two Australian case-control studies of cancer
Abstract Objective: Participation rates have been declining in case-control studies, particularly among controls, raising concerns about possible bias. Formal assessments of the effect of low participation on odds ratios (OR) are seldom presented however. We sought to quantify possible bias using multiple imputation techniques. Methods: Using data from two Australian case-control studies, we estimated the relative risks of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and adenocarcinoma (OAC), and serous ovarian cancer (SOC) associated with smoking and body mass index (BMI). We compared ORs observed using self-reported data from participating controls with ORs derived using imputed exposures for non-participating controls. Results: Participating controls were less likely than non-participants to smoke currently. Smoking remained significantly associated with oesophageal cancer even under the most extreme assumption of smoking prevalence among non-participants (OSCC: observed OR 6.54, 4.62-9.28, imputed OR 3.94, 2.83-5.49; OAC: observed OR 2.69, 1.87-3.85 imputed OR 1.58, 1.13-2.22). For SOC however, risks associated with smoking were attenuated to null under plausible smoking assumptions among non-participants. BMI distributions were similar among participating and non-participating controls, and risk estimates were essentially unchanged. Conclusion and implications: Bias is not an inevitable consequence of low control participation and depends on the association examined. Sensitivity analyses can assist in interpretation of results. [source]

How do trends in smoking prevalence among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian secondary students between 1996 and 2005 compare?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2009
Victoria White
Abstract Objective: To compare trends in smoking prevalence between 1996 and 2005 among Indigenous and non-Indigenous secondary students across Australia. Methods: Representative random samples of secondary students aged 12-17 years completed self-report anonymous surveys. Questionnaires assessed any cigarette smoking in lifetime, and smoking in past month, week and on at least three of the previous seven days. Intention to smoke in the next 12 months was assessed on a 7-point scale. Students self-identified as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Results: Three to four per cent of students identified as being Indigenous at each survey. Smoking was more common among Indigenous than non-Indigenous students. Between 1996 and 2005, the proportion of smoking declined among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. However, among 12-15 year olds, the rate of decline was different for the two groups. Among non-Indigenous students in this age group, prevalence decreased steadily between 1996 and 2005. Among Indigenous students, the decrease mainly occurred between 1999 and 2002. Smoking intention was higher for Indigenous than non-Indigenous students. The mean intention decreased between 1996 and 2005 among both student groups. Conclusions: Smoking prevalence decreased among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students between 1996 and 2005. Implications: Reductions in Indigenous students' tobacco use and intentions coincided with a period of increased tobacco control activity, suggesting that these activities may positively influence smoking behaviours. [source]

Ten-year survival outcome of the nicotine transdermal patch with cognitive behavioural therapy

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 3 2007
Robyn L. Richmond
Abstract Objective: To follow-up abstainers from the end of their initial treatment over seven points to 10 years. Methods: In the original study there were 305 smokers who were recruited in a double-blind randomised controlled trial. Those subjects who had remained continuously abstinent to seven years (n=20) were followed up to ascertain continuous smoking prevalence to 10 years. Main outcome measure was continuous abstinence. Results: At 10 years, the active nicotine patch group showed significantly higher continuous abstinence rates that were double those of the placebo group (7.9% vs. 2.6%, respectively). The high rate of relapse declined after six months. Conclusions: The nicotine patch leads to superior continuous abstinence over 10 years when compared with placebo. Public health implications: This is the longest follow-up study of continuous smoking abstinence after cognitive behaviour treatment combined with the nicotine patch. [source]

Measuring Prevalence: Changes in the use of tobacco among Australian secondary students: results of the 1999 prevalence study and comparisons with earlier years

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 2 2002
David Hill
Objective:To estimate smoking prevalence among Australian secondary students in 1999 and to examine trends in smoking-related behaviours since 1984. Method:A randomly selected representative sample of 399 secondary schools from across Australia participated in the study. At each school, up to 80 randomly selected students completed a pencil-and-paper questionnaire anonymously. Data from 25,486 students aged between 12 and 17 years are reported. Results:Current smoking (smoking in the week before the survey) was 6% in boys and girls aged 12, and rose to a peak prevalence among 17-year-olds of 33% for boys and 30% for girls. Comparisons across survey years showed that while fewer 12-to-15-year-olds were current smokers in 1999 than in 1996, among 16-and 17-year-olds, the proportion of current smokers in 1999 and 1996 was similar. Students who smoked were less likely to buy their cigarettes in 1999 than in previous surveys. Both older and younger secondary students were more likely to have received lessons about tobacco in the school year prior to the 1999 survey than were students in the 1996 survey. Conclusion:The rise in the prevalence of smoking among younger secondary students seen in the 1990s seems to have stopped and smoking prevalence has declined. Implications:Extrapolating from this survey, we estimate that nearly 269,000 12-to-17-year-old students were current smokers in 1999. If they all continue to smoke, 134,000 would die prematurely. [source]

Covariate Adjustment and Ranking Methods to Identify Regions with High and Low Mortality Rates

BIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2010
Huilin Li
Summary Identifying regions with the highest and lowest mortality rates and producing the corresponding color-coded maps help epidemiologists identify promising areas for analytic etiological studies. Based on a two-stage Poisson,Gamma model with covariates, we use information on known risk factors, such as smoking prevalence, to adjust mortality rates and reveal residual variation in relative risks that may reflect previously masked etiological associations. In addition to covariate adjustment, we study rankings based on standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), empirical Bayes (EB) estimates, and a posterior percentile ranking (PPR) method and indicate circumstances that warrant the more complex procedures in order to obtain a high probability of correctly classifying the regions with the upper,100,%,and lower,100,%,of relative risks for,,= 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2. We also give analytic approximations to the probabilities of correctly classifying regions in the upper,100,%,of relative risks for these three ranking methods. Using data on mortality from heart disease, we found that adjustment for smoking prevalence has an important impact on which regions are classified as high and low risk. With such a common disease, all three ranking methods performed comparably. However, for diseases with smaller event counts, such as cancers, and wide variation in event counts among regions, EB and PPR methods outperform ranking based on SMRs. [source]

English language proficiency and smoking prevalence among California's Asian Americans,

CANCER, Issue S12 2005
Hao Tang M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract The authors documented California's tobacco control initiatives for Asian Americans and the current tobacco use status among Asian subgroups and provide a discussion of the challenges ahead. The California Tobacco Control Program has employed a comprehensive approach to decrease tobacco use in Asian Americans, including ethnic-specific media campaigns, culturally competent interventions, and technical assistance and training networks. Surveillance of tobacco use among Asian Americans and the interpretation of the results have always been a challenge. Data from the 2001 The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) were analyzed to provide smoking prevalence estimates for all Asian Americans and Asian-American subgroups, including Korean, Filipino, Japanese, South Asian, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Current smoking prevalence was analyzed by gender and by English proficiency level. Cigarette smoking prevalence among Asian males in general was almost three times of that among Asian females. Korean and Vietnamese males had higher cigarette smoking prevalence rates than males in other subgroups. Although Asian females in general had low smoking prevalence rates, significant differences were found among Asian subgroups, from 1.1% (Vietnamese) to 12.7% (Japanese). Asian men who had high English proficiency were less likely to be smokers than men with lower English proficiency. Asian women with high English proficiency were more likely to be smokers than women with lower English proficiency. Smoking prevalence rates among Asian Americans in California differed significantly on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and English proficiency. English proficiency seemed to have the effect of reducing smoking prevalence rates among Asian males but had just the opposite effect among Asian females. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source]

Birth Cohort Effects on Incidence of Lung Cancers: A Population-based Study in Nagasaki, Japan

A hidden periodontitis epidemic during the 20th century?

COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
P. P. Hujoel
Abstract , Objectives: Increasing evidence suggests a strong causal link between smoking and periodontitis. The goal of this study was to impute how the secular changes in smoking prevalence during the 20th century impacted the advanced periodontitis incidence in the US. Methods: Epidemiological analyses based on US prevalence data of advanced periodontitis and smoking, and predictions of future smoking prevalence. Results: Assuming other risk factors for periodontitis remained constant, we estimated that the incidence of advanced periodontitis decreased by 31% between 1955 and 2000. The changes in smoking habits, and consequently the changes in periodontitis incidence, depended strongly on education and gender. Between 1966 and 1998, we estimated a 43% decreased periodontitis incidence among college-educated individuals versus only an 8% decrease among individuals with less than a high school education. Between 1955 and 1999, we estimated a 41% decrease among males versus a 14% decrease among females. By the year 2020, the incidence of advanced periodontitis may decrease 43% from its level in 1955. Conclusions: A periodontitis epidemic fueled by smoking remained hidden for most of the 20th century. Because this epidemic was hidden, it distorted our understanding of the treatment and etiology of periodontitis. The socioeconomic polarization of this epidemic will dictate alterations in patterns of periodontal care. [source]