Prevalence of smoking and its changes over time in Russia: data from the ESSE-RF study

Abstract

Aim. To analyze the prevalence of smoking according to the Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and their Risk Factors in Regions of Russian Federation-3 (ESSE-RF3) study, and compare these data with the previous two stages.Material and methods. Data from following three cross sections of the ESSE-RF study were used: 2013-2014, 2017, 2020-2022. At the first stage, the prevalence and probability of smoking was assessed according to ESSE-RF3 data in 2020-2022 (n=28628, 35-74 years). At the second stage, an analysis was carried out over time using data from all three ESSE-RF sections (n=43804, 35-64 years).Results. In the overall ESSE-RF3 sample, the prevalence of smoking was 17,0% (men — 27,7%, women — 7,6%). Smoking probability varies significantly by sex, age, education level and income. Over time, the standardized prevalence of smoking increases from 25,0% in 20132014 to 26,2% in 2017, and then decreases to 21,5% in 2020-2022. Women are characterized by the same direction of trends, while men had consistent decrease in prevalence from 41,3 to 37,0 and 34,3%, respectively. The probability of smoking in 2017, relative to 20132014, decreases only in some socio-demographic categories of the population. In 2020-2022, a decrease in the probability of smoking is typical for both the general sample and all subgroups of the population.Conclusion. The results obtained characterize the current situation and time trends of the last decade and contain important information on smoking epidemiology in Russia.