Cause Of Premature Death Research Articles

Beyond residential and extra-local spaces: Gun violence exposure in urban neighbourhood mobility networks

Gun violence is one of the leading causes of premature death in the United States. While research examining the impact of gun violence has focused on direct victimisation, exposure within residential communities experiencing gun violence is consequential. However, exposure is not a spatially bounded process, as residents spend significant time outside of their neighbourhoods and travel to neighbourhoods both near and far. As such, a more complete portrait of gun violence exposure must consider this higher-order, neighbourhood network. Using 2018–2019 mobile phone data from SafeGraph, I construct neighbourhood networks based on daily mobility flows for the 100 largest US metropolitan areas. I compare neighbourhood gun violence exposure in the residential neighbourhood, the neighbourhoods bordering the residential neighbourhood, and the non-residential and non-adjacent neighbourhoods visited by residents. I find that gun violence exposure is greater in visited neighbourhoods compared to home and adjacent neighbourhoods, most metro areas exhibit either greater or equal exposure in visited neighbourhoods relative to home neighbourhoods, Black neighbourhoods exhibit greater gun violence exposure across all scales, and segregation increases gun violence exposure in neighbourhood networks for Black, Hispanic and mixed racial/ethnic neighbourhoods.

Antithrombotic therapy in patients with inherited bleeding disorders: practical considerations.

For decades hemophilia and allied bleeding disorders caused by inherited deficiency of clotting factors were considered conditions protecting against thromboembolism (TE). This opinion was coined over 60 years ago, when average life expectancy of people with hemophilia (PWH) was below 30 years, long-term anti-hemorrhagic prophylaxis of bleeding episodes was unattainable, and the main cause of premature death of hemophilia patients were life-threatening bleeds. At that time, arterial or venous thromboembolism were simply not observed among people with inherited bleeding disorders. With the progress of hemophilia management leading to improved hemostasis, resulting in reduction of severity and frequency of bleeding episodes and longer life expectancy it became obvious that hemophilia patients may and do develop TE episodes. This review is focused on how to manage arterial and venous thromboembolism in people with inherited bleeding disorders. Anticoagulant therapy should be avoided in severe or moderate hemophilia without anti-hemorrhagic prophylaxis. Use of anticoagulants in therapeutic doses is safer when FVIII or FIX plasma activity is permanently ≥20 IU/dl rather than <20 IU/dl. Taking into account their efficacy, safety profile and convenience, direct oral anticoagulants are the first choice as oral anticoagulation therapy for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation as well as in venous TE treatment in PWH. People with hemophilia may be offered many treatment options which allow to minimize exposure to antithrombotic agents, e.g. cardioversion, catheter ablation, left atrial appendage occlusion, newer generation drug-eluting stents, bioprosthetic heart valves, mechanical thromboprophylaxis methods.

The outcomes of hybrid virtual consultation for a smoking cessation program in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Smoking has become a leading preventable cause of premature death and morbidity worldwide, with 8 million people dying each year because of tobacco. In Malaysia, a 24-week standard smoking cessation program is available to help smokers. Teleconsultation was introduced into this program during the COVID-19 pandemic by using internet-based video counseling to reduce the number of clinic visits. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of hybrid virtual consultation for smoking cessation programs among patients with nicotine dependence. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted where all the active smokers registered in the smoking cessation program from 2018 to 2023 were recruited. They were grouped into face-to-face interventions and hybrid virtual consultations. All data were obtained from the smoking cessation program registry. The primary outcome was point abstinence (PA) at week 7 (1-month post-quit date), biochemically verified with carbon monoxide (CO) Smokerlyzer for both face-to-face and hybrid groups. A total of 156 participants were included in this study, including face-to-face (99 participants) and hybrid virtual consultation (57 participants). The mean age of face-to-face and hybrid group participants was 51 and 48 years, respectively. In general, hybrid virtual consultation was more feasible, as evidenced by a lower defaulter rate and a higher rate of participants graduating at the end of the program than face-to-face consultation. The effectiveness of smoking cessation was also higher in hybrid consultation, with a higher abstinence rate at weeks 4 and 7, with percentages of 42.1% and 56.1%, respectively. Additionally, the hybrid group maintained a high continuous abstinence rate (CAR) from week 7 to 24, with a percentage of 56.1%. Hybrid virtual consultation was more effective, as evidenced by higher smoking cessation at week 7 (1-month post-quit date) and CAR from week 7 to week 24 compared to the face-to-face group. Telemedicine or teleconsultation should be easily available for smoking cessation programs, and healthcare providers should consider incorporating hybrid models into them to fully utilize the program and improve outcomes.

Risk Factors For Hypertension In Outpatients at RSUD MGR Gabriel Manek, SVD Atambua

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the leading cause of premature death in the world and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The incidence of hypertension in Belu Regency is quite high in the Regional General Hospital Mgr. Gabriel Manek, SVD Atambua which is a primary care referral hospital located in the border area between Timor Leste and Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with the incidence of hypertension in Mgr. Gabriel Manek Regional General Hospital, SVD Atambua. The type of research is analytic epidemiology with case control design. Respondents totaled 134 people, 67 case samples and 67 control samples. The sampling technique is accidental sampling. Data collection techniques were interviews and distributing questionnaires. Data analysis using the Chi-Square statistical test. The results showed that there was a relationship between age (p value = 0.003, OR = 3.030), family history (p value = 0.000, OR = 12.390), history of alcohol consumption (p value = 0.87, OR = 6.78), and history of sodium consumption (p value = 0.014, OR = 2.570) and there was no relationship between gender (p value = 0.603) and obesity (p value = 0.724) with the incidence of hypertension at Mgr. Gabriel Manek Hospital, SVD Atambua. The community is expected to implement a healthy lifestyle and diet and routinely check blood pressure in health facilities.

Targeting the CXCR4/CXCL12 Axis in Cancer Therapy: Analysis of Recent Advances in the Development of Potential Anticancer Agents.

Cancer, a leading cause of premature death, arises from genetic and epigenetic mutations that transform normal cells into tumor cells, enabling them to proliferate, evade cell death, and stimulate angiogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that chemokines are essential in tumor development, activating receptors that promote proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling pathway is gaining attention as a promising target for cancer therapy. CXCR4, a chemokine receptor, is often overexpressed in various types of cancer, including kidney, lung, brain, prostate, breast, pancreas, ovarian, and melanomas. When it binds to its endogenous ligand, CXCL12, it promotes cell survival, proliferation, and migration, crucial mechanisms for the retention of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and the movement of lymphocytes. The extensive expression of CXCR4 in cancer, coupled with the constant presence of CXCL12 in various organs, drives the activation of this axis, which in turn facilitates angiogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Given the detrimental role of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis, the search for drugs acting selectively against this protein represents an open challenge. This review aims to summarize the recent advancements in the design and development of CXCR4 antagonists as potential anticancer agents.

Temporal and spatial heterogeneity of tropospheric O3 and NO2 and health impact analysis in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia regions of China.

O3 and precursor pollution in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region of China is becoming increasingly severe, and the regional pollution characteristics are also more prominent. To investigate the causes of O3 and NO2 pollution and the health impacts of O3, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of O3 and NO2 pollution and the health and economic losses in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region were analyzed by using a detector with optimal parameters and the BenMAP (Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-community Edition) model. The results show that O3 in the troposphere of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia showed a "bimodal" distribution from 2005 to 2022, reaching a maximum value of 32.6 DU in 2010, and the change of NO2 increased first and then decreased in the troposphere, reaching a peak value of 5.2 × 1015 molec·cm-2 in 2011. The seasonal variations of O3 and NO2 were the highest in winter, the second highest in spring and fall, and the lowest in summer. The high-value area of O3 was mainly located in the northwest of Gansu. The concentration gradually decreased from northwest to southeast. In contrast, the high-value area of NO2 was concentrated in the east of Guanzhong Plain and the north of Yulin City, and the overall distribution was high in the east and low in the west. Among the interactions of the nine factors, the interactions of temperature and wind speed, precipitation and wind speed had the highest explanatory power for O3 changes, with 0.951 and 0.96, respectively, and the interactions of temperature and wind speed, and precipitation and sunshine hours had the highest explanatory power for NO2 changes, with 0.834 and 0.844, respectively; the interactions among pollutants were weaker than the interactions among meteorological factors. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death in the population. The number of premature deaths in the three provinces gradually decreases from 2018 to 2020, and the proportion of health economic loss to GDP also gradually decreases, from 1.55%, 0.82%, and 3.99% to 0.2%, 0.34%, and 2.86%, respectively. This study can provide theoretical references for the control and health impacts of O3 and NO2 in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia regions of China.

Taking care of patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa from birth to adulthood: a multidisciplinary Italian Delphi consensus

BackgroundRecessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare and severe mucocutaneous fragility disorder due to mutations in the COL7A1 gene encoding collagen VII, the major constituent of anchoring fibrils essential for epithelial adhesion. RDEB is characterized by unremitting blistering, chronic painful wounds and fibrotic scarring that results in hand and foot pseudosyndactyly, microstomia, and esophageal strictures. RDEB complications include nutritional compromise, chronic anemia, failure to thrive, delayed puberty, osteoporosis, and renal involvement. In addition, early onset cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) represent the first cause of premature death. Despite recent progress in wound care, disease management still relies on symptomatic and preventive measures. No clinical practice guidelines specifically focused on the care of RDEB are currently available. The present multidisciplinary consensus recommendations were generated following a modified Delphi method with the aim to provide healthcare professionals with practical statements on RDEB management from birth to adulthood.ResultsTen experts from six Italian EB reference centers developed 86 statements based on existing clinical practice guidelines and consensus recommendations for EB, literature data, and personal expertise. A multidisciplinary group of 30 members, representative of all major specialties relevant to RDEB management, participated to the anonymous online voting process. All statements reached consensus (> 75% agreement) at first voting round. Statements are divided into four major areas: (1) diagnosis, (2) neonatal age and infancy, (3) from childhood to adulthood, and (4) transversal age-independent issues, each of the last three comprising multiple domains of care. In particular, the section on patient care from childhood to adults deals with measures for management of wounds, gastrointestinal, eye and renal involvement, nutritional compromise, anemia, hand and foot deformities, cSCC, delayed puberty and osteoporosis, sexuality, pregnancy and delivery. Transversal issues comprise: pain and itch management, patient care in the operating theatre, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, therapeutic patient education and psychosocial support.ConclusionsThe proposed practical and synthetic recommendations cover all major issues in the management of patients with RDEB from birth to adulthood. They can represent a useful tool to support hospital healthcare personnel as well as primary care physicians in the complex multidisciplinary management of RDEB.

Potent inhibition of human monoamine oxidase A and B by phenolic compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids in tobacco smoke.

Potent inhibition of human monoamine oxidase A and B by phenolic compounds and polyunsaturated fatty acids in tobacco smoke.

Abstract P2066: Measured Raised Blood Pressure, Its Awareness and Control in the Adult Population: the Italian Health Examination Survey 2023-2024 - CUORE Project

Introduction: Raised blood pressure (RBP) constitutes a leading cause of premature death and disability worldwide, since it significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, dementia and blindness. The WHO recommends a 25% relative reduction in the prevalence of RBP by 2025, considering 2010 as baseline. Hypothesis: In order to monitor the achievement of this target, prevalence of RBP and mean blood pressure were measured in the Italian general adult population within periodic health examination surveys (HESs) conducted within the CUORE Project. Methods: In 2023 a new HES started including, up to now, data from random samples of residents aged 35-74 years (1,216 men, 1,235 women) in 12 Regions (of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy. Blood pressure was measured at the right arm, in sitting position, by automated oscillometric device using standardized procedures and methods; the average of two measurements performed within 1-minute interval was used for the analysis. RBP was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg. The survey is implemented with the technical and financial support of the Ministry of Health - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Results: Preliminary analysis shows that prevalence of RBP is 37% (95% Confidence Interval -95% CI: 32-42%) in men and 23% (95% CI: 19-28%) in women. Mean value of systolic blood pressure is 135 mmHg (95% CI: 134-136 mmHg) in men and 126 mmHg (95% CI: 125-127 mmHg) in women. Mean value of diastolic blood pressure is 80 mmHg (95% CI: 79-81 mmHg) in men and 75 mmHg (95% CI: 75-76 mmHg) in women. Among those with RBP and/or in treatment (49% of men and 37% of women), 36% of men and 31% women are unaware they could have BP control problems, 9% and 9% are aware but not in treatment, 24% and 37% are under treatment and at target, 30% and 23% are under treatment but not at target, respectively. Conclusions: These preliminary data underline that RBP is still high in the Italian adult population. Significant reductions in RBP prevalence occurred in comparison to previous HES data, 20% from 25 years ago, about 10% from 15 year ago, while a stable trend was found in comparison to 5 years ago. Improvements on RBP awareness and control are still necessary.

DLK1 distinguishes subsets of NF1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors with divergent molecular signatures.

MPNST is the leading cause of premature death among individuals with NF1 and the transcriptional aberrations that precede malignant transformation and contribute to MPNST tumorigenesis remain poorly defined. Alterations involving CDKN2A and components of PRC2 have been implicated as early drivers of PNST evolution, but these events do not occur in all MPNST. Accordingly, emerging data has begun to highlight the importance of molecular-based stratification to improve outcomes in patients with NF1-PNST. Here we perform an integrated analysis of multiple, independent datasets obtained from human NF1 patients to gain critical insight into PNST evolution and MPNST heterogeneity. We show that DLK1 is significantly increased in MPNST and provide evidence that DLK1 overexpression may precede histological changes consistent with malignancy. In complementary analyses, we find that serum levels of DLK1 are significantly higher in both mice and humans harboring MPNST compared to those without malignancy. Importantly, while DLK1 expression is increased in MPNST overall, through the integration of multiple, independent datasets we demonstrate that divergent levels of DLK1 expression distinguish MPNST subsets characterized by unique molecular programs and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. Specifically, we show that overexpression of DLK1 is associated with the reactivation of embryonic signatures, an immunosuppressive microenvironment and a worse overall survival in patients with NF1-MPNST. Collectively, our findings provide critical insight into MPNST tumorigenesis and support prospective studies evaluating the utility of DLK1 tissue and serum levels in augmenting diagnosis, risk assessment and therapeutic stratification in the setting of NF1-PNST.

Altered Volumes oftheAmygdalaandHippocampusin the Brainof Suicidal Patients with First Episode Schizophrenia.

Suicide remains a significant cause of premature death in schizophrenia patients. Structural alterations in the brain and neurobiological mechanisms behind suicidal behavior (SB) in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) have received increasing attention. The amygdala and hippocampus regulate behaviors such as risk-taking, impulsivity, and emotional processing. Abnormalities in these regions have been linked with suicidal ideation, behavior, and psychotic symptoms. However, the association remains unclear. The study included 20 FES patients with current SB, 51 FES patients without SB, and 42 healthy controls. All patients were subjected to clinical evaluations to assess psychotic symptoms and suicidal ideation and behavior, both current and lifetime. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were processed through two web-based automatic analysis tools, MRICloud, and volBrain. Bilateral amygdala volumes were found to be significantly lower in the patient groups, while schizophrenia and suicidal ideation had opposite effects on amygdala volumes. Hippocampal subfields such as the right Cornu Amnonis (CA) fields varied according to the clinical status of the patients, including the severity of suicidal ideation and behavior. These findings support not only the involvement of the amygdala and hippocampus in SB and schizophrenia but also their roles in the discrimination of SB in patients with schizophrenia.

Health literacy of adolescents’ responses to a workshop focusing on food, nutrition, climate change and digital technology solutions in Oceania: a multi-site pilot study in Vanuatu

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCD) have become the leading cause of premature death and disability in the Pacific region, with the development of health literacy an important factor for the prevention and control of NCD. Health literacy is an important lifelong asset that can be developed in adolescents through engagement in schooling and curriculum. The aim of this study was to explore Ni-Van adolescents' health literacy knowledge and capabilities regarding food and nutrition, climate change and digital technology solutions.MethodsTwo Ni-Van schools participated in the study (one urban (School A) and one rural school (School B)), with 44 students (68% female) comprising 14 small groups participating in one workshop and booklet activities in April 2023. The 14 workshop booklet responses were deductively analysed using Nutbeam’s health literacy hierarchy.ResultsSchool A’s booklet responses showed that interactive health literacy responses were dominant (54%), followed by functional (34%) and critical learning activities (12%), whereas School B’s responses showed that functional health literacy responses were dominant (65%), followed by interactive (28%) and critical (5%).ConclusionThe findings show that students in both schools were less likely to engage in critical, compared with functional and interactive health literacy levels. This is an important consideration for future workshops, as well as curriculum and teacher training in Vanuatu, as Vanuatu (and other PICTs) are more susceptible to the effects of climate change and food sustainability issues.. Without a focus on developing critical health literacy knowledge and capabilities throughout the schooling years, this is a missed opportunity to create enabling environments that reduce youth exposures to NCD risk factors.

Mayo Clinic Global Oncology Fellowship: Development and Implementation of a Novel 2-Year Multidisciplinary Training Program for Oncologists from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Cancer is set to become the leading worldwide cause of premature death and mortality will be disproportionately greater in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) due to limitations in physical resources and oncology specialists. To address unmet workforce and educational needs, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic developed the Global Oncology Fellowship, a 2-year multidisciplinary oncology training program for practicing physicians from LMIC. The fellowship was developed through collaboration with multiple institutional departments and external stakeholders. Eligible fellows are graduates of a recognized international medical school who have completed oncology training in a LMIC and confirm intent to practice in a LMIC. During the 2-year program, fellows rotate through Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Palliative Care, Diagnostic Radiology, radiation dosimetry, research, and leadership development. The program design is flexible and can be tailored to fit the trainee's clinical needs and interests and focuses on malignancies and technologies that are common in LMIC. The Global Oncology Fellowship was successfully established and supported by benefactor funds. Recruitment of the first trainee faced challenges related to COVID pandemic, completion of medical licensing exams, and obtaining a United States visa. The first fellow started in February 2023 with training ongoing. With the formal approval of the Global Oncology Fellowship in 2024, the program is recruiting for the 2025-2027 academic years. Short- and-long term assessments of the program are ongoing. The Mayo Clinic Global Oncology Fellowship is a multi-disciplinary training program developed to address the educational needs of oncologists in low-and-middle income countries. We hope to contribute to the number of highly trained oncology specialists in LMIC, who will go on to be leaders in clinical care, education, and research.

Can self-compassion mitigate the negative consequences of insecure attachment on the incidence of self-harm in young adults? The relationship between self-harm, attachment and self-compassion.

This study explores self-compassion as a mediator in the relationship between attachment and self-harm. Self-harm represents a maladaptive coping strategy, meanwhile suicidal self-harm is the third most common cause of premature death among young people worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to expand research on self-harm and explore potential protective factors. Our main research hypothesis was that self-compassion mediates the relationship between attachment and self-harm based on the empirical and theoretical evidence presented. Four hundred and two participants recruited online completed a questionnaire consisting of scales measuring self-harming behaviour, adult attachment and self-compassion. We found that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance positively predict self-harm and negatively predict self-compassion. The results also revealed that self-compassion negatively predicts self-harm and mediates the relationship between self-harm and both anxious and avoidant attachment. We believe that this paper creates further ground for future research on protective factors involved in the dynamics of self-harm and has the potential to provide interesting findings for professionals working with insecurely attached self-harming clients.

Communication about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): An adaptation of the SPIKES protocol

Communication about sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): An adaptation of the SPIKES protocol

Understanding the lived experiences of people living with epilepsy: Oral history assessment in the Shai Osudoku and Ningo Prampram districts, Ghana.

Understanding the lived experiences of people living with epilepsy: Oral history assessment in the Shai Osudoku and Ningo Prampram districts, Ghana.

Standardising lipid testing and reporting in the United Kingdom; a joint statement by HEART UK and The Association for Laboratory Medicine.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of premature death in the United Kingdom. Lipid testing is a key tool used to assess cardiovascular risk and guide clinical management decisions. There are currently no national guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations on lipid testing and reporting for UK laboratories and clinicians. Here we present consensus guidance, following a review of published evidence by a multidisciplinary group of UK experts across a range of laboratory and clinical services. Recommendations include the composition of a standard lipid profile; indications for, and composition of, an enhanced lipid profile including apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a); use of the Sampson-NIH calculation for LDL-c estimation and guidance on when to flag abnormal results. This consensus guidance on lipid testing and reporting in the United Kingdom has been endorsed by HEART UK and The Association for Laboratory Medicine.

Chaotic gradient based optimization with fuzzy temporal optimized CNN for heart failure prediction

Heart failure is a leading cause of premature death, especially among individuals with a sedentary lifestyle. Early and accurate detection is essential to prevent the progression of this situation. However, many existing prediction systems failed to detect early and accurately, also taking more time to detect. To address these issues, we propose an advanced heart failure detection model that combines one-dimensional chaotic maps and a Gradient-Based Optimizer (GBO) called Chaotic Gradient-Based Optimizer (CGBO). This approach improves feature selection by effectively selecting the most crucial features related to the risk of heart failure. Additionally, we introduce the Fuzzy Temporal Optimized Convolutional Neural Network (FTOCNN) classifier that incorporates CGBO and fuzzy temporal rules to enhance detection accuracy. The proposed model is evaluated using the UCI heart dataset and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and its performance is assessed through statistical measures, classification metrics, and a Wilcoxon rank-sum p-test. Furthermore, a tenfold cross-validation process ensures a comprehensive evaluation and the proposed method outperforms different Machine Learning (ML) / Deep Learning (DL) classifiers. The experimental findings reveal that CGBO significantly improves the predictive performance of the FTOCNN classifier by achieving 94% accuracy in EHR and enhances the reliability of heart failure detection compared to existing systems.

Relationship Between Waist Circumference, Smoking, and Physical Activity with Hypertension at Lenek Community Health Center

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, are a major problem and cause of premature death in developing countries. Data on hypertension in NTB is 282,970 with the most sufferers in East Lombok Regency. Non-modifiable hypertension risk factors include age, gender, and heredity, as well as modifiable risks include smoking, alcohol use, obesity, nutrition, and physical activity. The purpose of this study at the Lenek Health Center is to evaluate the link between waist circumference, smoking, and physical activity with hypertension. This study employs a cross-sectional approach and is observational quantitative analytical in nature. Purposive sampling is done using the Slovin formula. This study's sample size was 106 samples. The data was examined using the chi-square test. The findings revealed 106 respondents, the majority of whom had hypertension (74 people, 69.8%), while 32 people (30.2%) did not have hypertension. There is a substantial correlation between waist circumference and hypertension (p = 0.001). Smoking is significantly associated with hypertension (p=0.001). There is a strong link between physical activity and hypertension (p=0.001). The conclusion is that waist circumference, smoking, and physical activity all influence the prevalence of hypertension at the Lenek Health Center.

Association between Smoking and Depression among University Students in Bangladesh

Background: Smoking has some terrible consequences on human health, and it has become a major public health concern around the globe. Currently one of the leading preventable causes of premature death and disability in the world is smoking. Depression is a serious problem for young people leads to suicide. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the association between smoking and depression. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh among 401 students aged 18-26 years. Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES_D) was used for the evaluation of depression status of the respondents. Statistical analysis was performed to see the association between outcome and predictors by using SPSS version 22 software package. Result: Among total students, 301 students lived in nuclear families, and 84.0% of the student’s monthly family income was above 20,000 takas. Although 78.1% were smokers among depressed respondents, there was no significant association between smoking and depression. Significant associations were also not found in the subgroups of males, females, those aged 18-23 years and those aged 24-26 years. Conclusion: There may be heterogeneity in the association between smoking and depression among different culture, different society, different stage of life, etc. Since the association between smoking and depression is an important public health issue, the heterogeneity should be examined by large scale studies.