Zhixin Fan1, Xiayu Gong1, Hanfang Xu1, Hanzhang Wang1, Ningxi Zeng1, Ling Li1, Can Yan1, Lili Wu2, Yuan Chen3. 1. Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. 2. Research Center for Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: wulili@gzucm.edu.cn. 3. Animal Laboratory Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: chenyuan1@gzucm.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Findings concerning gender differences in the associations between tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and depression are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific associations between active and passive TSE with depressive symptoms in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. METHODS: Data were from 27,175 adults aged ≥20 years in the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for possible confounders. Whether the TSE-depression relationships may differ by age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, body mass index (BMI), and self-reported health status was examined. RESULTS: After adjustment for lifestyle- and health-related variables, no significant associations between active (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.87-1.55]) and passive TSE (OR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.59-1.19]) and depressive symptoms were found among men. Among women, active TSE was associated with depressive symptoms (OR, 1.90 [95% CI, 1.51-2.39]), while the association for passive TSE was nonsignificant (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.91-1.34]) after adjusting for lifestyle- and health-related variables. Interaction and subgroup analyses showed that self-reported health status could modify the relationship between passive TSE and depressive symptoms among women. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship between serum cotinine and depressive symptoms was found in women, but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a stronger TSE-depression association in women than in men. Understanding these gender-specific patterns and identifying the potential moderators of such relationships will enable better targeting of public health interventions.
BACKGROUND: Findings concerning gender differences in the associations between tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) and depression are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific associations between active and passive TSE with depressive symptoms in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. METHODS: Data were from 27,175 adults aged ≥20 years in the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for possible confounders. Whether the TSE-depression relationships may differ by age, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, body mass index (BMI), and self-reported health status was examined. RESULTS: After adjustment for lifestyle- and health-related variables, no significant associations between active (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.87-1.55]) and passive TSE (OR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.59-1.19]) and depressive symptoms were found among men. Among women, active TSE was associated with depressive symptoms (OR, 1.90 [95% CI, 1.51-2.39]), while the association for passive TSE was nonsignificant (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.91-1.34]) after adjusting for lifestyle- and health-related variables. Interaction and subgroup analyses showed that self-reported health status could modify the relationship between passive TSE and depressive symptoms among women. Furthermore, a dose-response relationship between serum cotinine and depressive symptoms was found in women, but not in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a stronger TSE-depression association in women than in men. Understanding these gender-specific patterns and identifying the potential moderators of such relationships will enable better targeting of public health interventions.