Patterns of smoking in Spain. Results from a regional general population survey.

Smoking patterns were examined in 2500 individuals, aged 14-70 years living in Castille and Leon (Spain) in the fall of 1992. Of these, 39.6% were regular smokers, 7.2% were occasional smokers, 14.8% were former smokers, and 30.4% were non-smokers. Sex differences were striking: there was a higher prevalence of regular smokers among males than females, males smoked much more, and were more frequently French-type cigarette smokers. A comparison of the present figures with data from an earlier survey carried out in 1989 suggests that smoking is decreasing in Spain.