Gender Differences In Smoking Prevalence Research Articles

Comparitive Study of Glutathione-S-Transferase Isoenzyme and Vitamin D Levels in Smokers and Non-smokers

Background: In developed countries, cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. In the second half of this century, dramatic changes in the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States reduced current smoking levels to approximately one quarter of the adult population, reducing gender differences in smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable diseases. Cigarette smoking is a serious risk factor for lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States and around the world.
 Aim: Comparative Study of Glutathione-S-Transferase Isoenzyme mu and Vitamin-D Levels in Smokers and Non-Smokers.
 Materials and Methods: A total of 100 people aged 20 to 55 years old who came to Shalinitai Meghe hospital in Nagpur for a health check-up were chosen for the research. Non-smokers make up the control group, while smokers make up the research group. There are 50 patients in each group. ELISA was used to determine vitamin D status. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect GST-µ in heparinized whole blood.
 Results: GST-µ was found to be mostly positive in smokers, and it was also found to be raised in heavy smokers (6.39±3.2) than light smokers (4.56±0.78). GST-µ is positive in light smokers. GST-µ is nearly equal in smokers (5.24±0.95) and heavy smokers relative to others.
 Conclusion: Quitting smoking for a longer period of time was related to higher vitamin D levels than current smoking. Furthermore, the GST-µ measure used in our research may be used to show differences in cytogenetic damage between smokers who have a genetically defined detoxification enzyme and those who do not.

Risk factor management in coronary patients: results from the EUROASPIRE V survey

Abstract Background Previously, there has been a misperception that cardiovascular disease (CVD) mainly affects males. Although lately, there is increasing awareness about the risk of CVD in women, evidence suggests that the management of women with CVD is suboptimal. Purpose The aim of this study is to look at gender differences in treatment and risk factor control after a coronary event across countries with varying income levels. Methods Analyses were based on the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey, including patient information from 27 European countries. Patients included (18–80 years), were hospitalised for an ischaemic coronary event. Information on medical treatment, risk factors and behavioural changes were obtained during patient interviews (6 months to 2 years after hospitalization). Findings on treatment and risk factor control were compared with the European guidelines on CVD prevention (2016). Country classification by income level (low/medium income vs. high income) was done according to the World Bank Atlas method. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, education level, country income, surgical intervention, stroke, heart failure and diabetes were performed. Results Data from 8261 coronary patients, of which 25.8% women, were included in the analyses. Mean (SD) age at the interview was 62.95 (9.72) years for men and 65.36 (9.21) years for women. First, when looking at the evidence based medication intake, no gender differences were seen in the prescription of antiplatelets/aspirin, whereas statins were more often prescribed in men (82.8% vs. 77.7%; p=0.002). A closer look by country income revealed that this difference is entirely due to the higher statin use among men from low/medium income countries (79.6% vs. 72.3%; p=0.004). Second, the risk factor profile differed substantially between genders. Overall, a worse risk factor profile was seen in women. Although, men were more likely to smoke (20.7% vs. 12.8%; p<0.001), women were less physically active (63.2% vs. 72.5%; p<0.001), had more obesity (34.9% vs. 45.7%; p<0.001) and central obesity (51.8% vs. 78.0%; p<0.001), and had a worse lipid control (65.9% vs. 74.3%; p<0.001). Overall, no gender differences were seen in diabetes prevalence and blood pressure control. A closer look at country income level showed that the gender difference in smoking prevalence dissolved in high income countries. In addition, women in low income countries were more likely to suffer from diabetes (26.7% vs. 38.9%; p<0.001). Conclusion These findings suggest a worse risk factor profile in women despite little to no gender differences in medical treatment. Further research is needed to understand the gender-differential in risk factor control. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Fonds voor hartchirurgie - Fonds pour la Chirurgie Cardiaque

Gender, acculturation, and smoking behavior among U.S. Asian and Latino immigrants

In this paper we examine smoking prevalence and frequency among Asian and Latino U.S. immigrants, focusing on how gender differences in smoking behavior are shaped by aspects of acculturation and the original decision to migrate. We draw on data from 3249 immigrant adults included in the 2002–2003 National Latino and Asian American Study. Findings confirm the gender gap in smoking, which is larger among Asian than Latino immigrants. While regression models reveal that gender differences in smoking prevalence, among both immigrant groups, are not explained with adjustment for measures of acculturation and migration decisions, adjustment for these factors does reduce gender differences in smoking frequency to non-significance. Following, we examine gender-stratified models and test whether aspects of migration decisions and acculturation relate more strongly to smoking behavior among women; we find that patterns are complex and depend upon pan-ethnic group and smoking measure.

Tobacco Use and Smoking Cessation Practices among Physicians in Developing Countries: A Literature Review (1987–2010)

Physicians have a key role to play in combating tobacco use and reducing the tobacco induced harm to health. However, there is a paucity of information about tobacco-use and cessation among physicians in developing countries. To assess the need for and nature of smoking cessation services among physicians in developing countries, a detailed literature review of studies published in English, between 1987 and 2010 was carried out. The electronic databases Medline and Pub Med were searched for published studies. The findings show that there are regional variations in the current smoking prevalence, quitting intentions, and cessation services among physicians. Smoking prevalence (median) was highest in Central/Eastern Europe (37%), followed by Africa (29%), Central and South America (25%) and Asia (17.5%). There were significant gender differences in smoking prevalence across studies, with higher prevalence among males than females. Smoking at work or in front of patients was commonly practiced by physicians in some countries. Asking about smoking status or advising patients to quit smoking was not common practice among the physicians, especially among smoker physicians. Organized smoking cessation programs for physicians did not exist in all of these regions. This review suggests that while smoking of physicians varies across different developing regions; prevalence rates tend to be higher than among physicians in developed countries. Quitting rates were low among the physicians, and the delivery of advice on quitting smoking was not common across the studies. To promote tobacco control and increase cessation in populations, there is a need to build physicians’ capacity so that they can engage in tobacco use prevention and cessation activities.

Smoking Cessation Treatment Outcomes in Men and Women in Taiwan: Implications for Interpreting Gender Differences in Smoking Cessation

Several clinical trials of both behavioural and pharmacological treatments across Europe and the US have reported lower smoking cessation rates in women than in men, while population data and data from smokers attending routine stop-smoking services show little or no gender differences in outcome. Data from countries with a large gender difference in smoking prevalence can clarify whether self-selection could be responsible for this discrepancy. We analyzed data from a smoking cessation clinic in Taiwan, where 47% of men and 4% of women smoke. 1,090 smokers (963 men and 127 women) seeking help at a Taiwanese smokers' clinic between 2002 and 2007 received nicotine patches and up to 8 support sessions. Several baseline variables were collected together with self-reported smoking status at 3 and 6 months. Sustained abstinence rates (abstinent at both 3 months and 6 months) were significantly lower in women than in men (18.0% vs 30.3%, p=0.04), as were point-prevalence abstinence rates at both 3 (28.3% vs 38.5%, p=0.026) and 6 months (22.0% vs 35.0%, p=0.004). In a multiple regression including all baseline variables, only gender and cigarettes per day were significant predictors of sustained abstinence. In conclusion, among a cohort of treatment-seekers in Taiwan, there was a significant gender difference in smoking cessation outcomes. Given that such an effect is small or non-existent in countries where the prevalence of smoking across genders is similar, this suggests that sporadic gender differences could be an artifact of self-selection.

Evaluating Gender Differences in Smoking Prevalence among Young Adults Applying for Registration to Physical Training and Sports High School

Background: Experimentation with smoking occurs primarily during adolescence. Preventing smoking initiation among adolescents has become a significant global public health concern in tobacco control. Objective: To evaluate whether there are differences in smoking habit within gender, among young adults applying for registration to Physical Training and Sports (PTS) High School in Sakarya University, Turkey. Method: Young adults applying for registration to PTS High School were asked demographic information and about their smoking habits and smoking status of family members for three consequent years (2006, 2007, 2008). Gender differences in smoking status were assessed by chi-square and one-way anova by year, with using SPSS for Windows 16.0 Results: Of total 2552 individuals responded, 77.6% (n=1980) were boys and 22.4% (n=572) were girls; mean age was 19.7±1.9 (16-27).Smoking prevelances differed significantly between girls and boys in 2006 and 2007, but not in 2008 (respectively p=0.004, p=0.001, p=0.08). The prevelance of smoking among boys seen in 2006 was 32.3% and it was 19.6% in 2008.The prevelance of smoking among girls seen in 2006 was 20.1% and it was 12.8% in 2008. The decreasing trend in the prevelance of current smokers and daily smokers among girls was not as much as among boys.The prevalence of daily smoking differed by gender only in 2006; the difference by gender was seemed to dissapeared in 2007 and 2008 (respectively; p=0.01, p=0.1; p=0.9) There was no difference between girls and boys in the age of initiation (p=0.5).Boys’ smoking habits were only related with the smoking habit of the brother/sisters (p=0.001). Whereas smoking habit among girls were related both with parents (p=0.006 and p=0.01) and brothers/sisters (p≤0.0001). Conclusion: This study provides additional information about the trend in smoking among girls; supporting the idea that tobacco control policies maintained in 21st century should take into account gender differences in smoking.

Women and the smoking epidemic: turning the tide

Women and the smoking epidemic: turning the tide

Moderation of gender on smoking and depression in Chinese Americans

This study examined the moderating role of gender in the association between smoking status and depression in a nationwide convenience sample of Chinese American current, former, and never smokers ( N = 1393). Participants were recruited in smoker–supporter dyads. Multilevel modeling was used to take into account the dyadic nature of the data. Depressive symptoms were measured by a 10-item CES-D (Center of Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale). Results showed significant effects of smoking status by gender interaction and smoking status on depression after adjusting for acculturation and social support. Among Chinese females, current smokers reported elevated depression level than both former and never smokers. Among Chinese males, current smokers reported more depressive symptoms when compared to former smokers only. Chinese females reported higher depression level than males among current smokers; no gender difference in depression was observed among former or never smokers. The association between smoking and depression is moderated by gender among Chinese Americans where substantial gender difference in smoking prevalence exists. Findings highlight the importance of addressing depression in treating tobacco use among Chinese American smokers, especially among females.

Sex difference in the prevalence of smoking in Chinese schizophrenia

Despite a large proportion of smoker in Chinese population, few studies address the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenia in such a homogeneous ethnic group. This study examined gender-specific relationships between smoking and schizophrenia, which have previously received little systematic study. The prevalence of smoking in 510 inpatients with schizophrenia and 793 normal controls was evaluated. The relationships between smoking and retrospectively assessed measures of the course of schizophrenia were evaluated by clinician-administered questionnaires. The results showed that the gender difference in smoking prevalence was in the opposite direction for males compared to females between schizophrenia and normal controls. Male patients had a higher smoking rate than controls (81% vs 66%, adjusted OR = 2.3, p < 0.0001), while female patients had a lower rate than controls (5% vs 9% p > 0.05). Smoking was associated with a family history of smoking, a personal history of alcohol use and age in men with schizophrenia. Our present findings suggest a significant gender difference in the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenia.

Matching with a Handicap: The Case of Smoking in the Marriage Market

We develop a matching model on the marriage market, where individuals have preferences over the smoking status of potential mates, and over their socioeconomic quality. Spousal smoking is bad for non-smokers, but it is neutral for smokers, while individuals always prefer high socioeconomic quality. Furthermore, there is a gender difference in smoking prevalence, there being more smoking men than smoking women for all education levels, so that smoking women and non-smoking men are in short supply. The model generates clear cut conditions regarding matching patterns. Using CPS data and its Tobacco Use Supplements for the years 1996 to 2007 and proxing socioeconomic status by educational attainment, we find that these conditions are satisfied. There are fewer mixed couples where the wife smokes than vice-versa, and matching is assortative on education among couples with identical smoking habits. Among non-smoking wives those with smoking husbands have on average 0.14 fewer years of completed education than those with non-smoking husbands. Finally, and somewhat counterintuitively, we find that among smoking husbands those who marry smoking wives have on average 0.16 more years of completed education than those with non-smoking wives.

Adolescent smoking: the control of mood and body image concerns

Adults use food, alcohol, and drugs, including cigarettes, to alter their mood states. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that adolescents follow a similar course. This paper explores adolescents’ use of cigarettes to moderate negative emotions. The authors examine questionnaire and qualitative data from a longitudinal study of over 3,500 East Sussex secondary school pupils in the context of published accounts of stress, coping and smoking. Together, these studies raise the possibility that smokers perceive more stress in their lives and use different coping strategies from non‐smokers. Results indicate that despite the popular belief that adolescent girls experience greater stress than do teenage boys, the gender differences in smoking prevalence observed in recent years cannot be attributed directly to differences either in perceived stress, or in coping strategies. Finally, beliefs about smoking and weight control are explored in the context of young adolescents’ views about their bodies. The widely held assumption that teenage girls use cigarettes to control body weight is challenged.

Ethnic and gender differences in smoking prevalence among a longitudinal sample of inner-city adolescents

Purpose: To determine if ethnic and gender differences in smoking (lifetime prevalence and 30-day prevalence) exist among a cohort of Asian, black, Hispanic, and white inner-city adolescents during the 3-year middle school period. Methods: Students in 22 urban schools completed self-report questionnaires and provided carbon monoxide breath samples at three annual assessments. Chi-square analyses were conducted to test for associations between ethnic group (Asian, black, Hispanic, and white) and smoking and to test for gender differences in smoking within each ethnic group. Additional analyses examined differences in smoking between two Hispanic subgroups (Puerto Rican and Dominican). Results: Ethnicity was associated with lifetime smoking prevalence at all three assessment points but was only associated with 30-day smoking prevalence at the 2-year follow-up. However, there were no differences in smoking between Puerto Rican and Dominican youth. Black girls reported higher lifetime smoking prevalence than black boys at all three assessments. At the 2-year follow-up, Asian boys reported higher lifetime smoking prevalence than Asian girls; Hispanic girls reported higher 30-day prevalence than Hispanic boys. Conclusions: White and Hispanic adolescents were at higher risk for smoking relative to Asian and black adolescents. With the exception of white youth, gender differences were found within each ethnic group.

The course of early smoking: a population-based cohort study over three years.

To examine the uptake and course of smoking in a representative adolescent cohort. Six-wave cohort study. Secondary school students initially aged 14-15 years at 44 schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. Computerized questionnaire including 7-day retrospective recall for tobacco use. Prevalence rates for smoking in the past month rose from 25% to 31% and daily smoking 9% to 18% across the 3-year follow-up. Forty-five per cent of the sample smoked at some point but only 18% were daily smokers at the end-point. High rates of short-term cessation were observed for both experimental and daily smokers, but 70% of daily smokers relapsed within 12 months. Occasional smoking at the outset was the strongest predictor of later daily smoking and was also predictive of lower cessation and higher relapse rates. Parental divorce and parental daily smoking were associated with smoking at the outset and parental smoking was strongly predictive of the course of daily smoking. In contrast, prevalence rates of smoking in a subject's school did not significantly predict either smoking initiation or subsequent course. Female daily smokers were half as likely as males to cease smoking, a finding that accounted for gender differences in smoking prevalence in this sample. The strength of association between occasional and later daily smoking indicates the importance of primary prevention but the variability in the early course indicates that there should be much scope for promotion of adolescent efforts to quit. Both the diminished likelihood of smoking cessation in young women and parental influences on smoking course deserve further exploration.

Cigarette smoking and its risk factors among elementary school students in Beijing.

This study investigated patterns of and risk factors for smoking among elementary school children in Beijing, China. In 1988, anonymous questionnaires were administered to a multistage stratified cluster sample of 16996 students, aged mostly 10 to 12, in 479 fourth- to sixth-grade classes from 122 Beijing elementary schools. Approximately 28% of boys and 3% of girls had smoked cigarettes. The most frequently cited reasons for smoking initiation were "to imitate others' behavior" and "to see what it was like." Girls were more likely to get cigarettes from home than to purchase their own. Having close friends who smoked and being encouraged by close friends to smoke were strong risk factors for smoking. Smoking was also associated with lower parental socioeconomic status; having parents, siblings, or teachers who smoked; buying cigarettes for parents; performing poorly in school; and not believing that smoking is harmful to health. Gender differences in smoking prevalence among adolescents in China are larger than those among US teenagers, whereas the proximal risk factors for smoking are similar. Major efforts are needed to monitor and prevent smoking initiation among Chinese adolescents, particularly girls.