Assessment of health and mental pecularities of male smokers in comparison with never smokers (population study)

Abstract

Introduction. Smokers are known to have the mortality rate to be higher than never-smokers. At the same time a refusal from smoking in prevention programs did not make a prognosis better. Smoking may be associated with some social disadvantages, which can also influence health negatively. Testing of this hypothesis which had been made earlier on the population of the enterprise workers proved significant disparities in the way of life and mental features of smokers in comparison with never-smokers. Aim. The aim of present work is to study the health and mental features of male smokers in comparison with never-smokers. Material and methods. 1059 men - workers of metallurgical plant, 35-60 years old, were examined. Response rate of 92.3% makes sample general. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, height, weight, resting pulse rate were taken by standard methods. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as a ratio of weight (kg) to height in square (m2). Men were divided into two groups: 132 heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes/day) and 403 never-smokers. Results. There was no difference between the groups in age and non-communicative diseases prevalence. At the same time smokers had more often symptoms of psychological disadvantage, people with insufficient BMI and had lower education. Conclusion. Heavy smokers are characterized with less favorable indices of mental status, more often insufficient BMI and lower education level in comparison with never smokers. Health promoting actions among smokers should include the correction of way of life parameters non favorable for health.