OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate how cigarette smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms, fitness, and anthropometric measures in young smokers. METHODS: The prevalence of smoking was investigated in a cohort of young military draftees (n = 1130; 98% between 18–21 years of age) in Northern Finland. The associations of smoking with respiratory symptoms, physical fitness (12-min running test), education, and anthropometric measures were analysed using a self-reported questionnaire with high response rate (80%). RESULTS: Almost half (46.5%) of the young males were daily smokers, 17.4% being occasional smokers. The prevalence of self-reported chronic cough and sputum production was high in daily smokers (40.7%) and occasional smokers (26.9%) compared to non-smokers (12%). These symptoms were significantly associated with the smoking history. Aerobic fitness was worse in regular smokers compared to non-smokers (P < 0.001). Smokers had a higher body mass index than non-smokers (P = 0.035). In the regular smokers, the more active the subjects were in sports, the less they smoked when evaluated by pack year history (P < 0.001). Smokers had a lower educational level than occasional smokers or, especially, non-smokers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of young smokers with chronic cough and sputum production was very high, posing a serious risk to their future health.
OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate how cigarette smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms, fitness, and anthropometric measures in young smokers. METHODS: The prevalence of smoking was investigated in a cohort of young military draftees (n = 1130; 98% between 18–21 years of age) in Northern Finland. The associations of smoking with respiratory symptoms, physical fitness (12-min running test), education, and anthropometric measures were analysed using a self-reported questionnaire with high response rate (80%). RESULTS: Almost half (46.5%) of the young males were daily smokers, 17.4% being occasional smokers. The prevalence of self-reported chronic cough and sputum production was high in daily smokers (40.7%) and occasional smokers (26.9%) compared to non-smokers (12%). These symptoms were significantly associated with the smoking history. Aerobic fitness was worse in regular smokers compared to non-smokers (P < 0.001). Smokers had a higher body mass index than non-smokers (P = 0.035). In the regular smokers, the more active the subjects were in sports, the less they smoked when evaluated by pack year history (P < 0.001). Smokers had a lower educational level than occasional smokers or, especially, non-smokers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of young smokers with chronic cough and sputum production was very high, posing a serious risk to their future health.
Authors: Pentti Nieminen; Dmitry Panychev; Sergei Lyalyushkin; German Komarov; Alexander Nikanov; Mark Borisenko; Vuokko L Kinnula; Tuula Toljamo Journal: Int J Circumpolar Health Date: 2013-02-22 Impact factor: 1.228
Authors: Ryan P Lindsay; Sanghyuk S Shin; Richard S Garfein; Melanie L A Rusch; Thomas E Novotny Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-03-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Georgios Nikolakaros; Tero Vahlberg; Kari Auranen; Lauri Sillanmäki; Takis Venetoklis; Andre Sourander Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2017-08-18