Low Tobacco Consumption Research Articles

The impact of tobacco tax on the cardiovascular health: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. At the same time, tobacco consumption plays a key role in cardiovascular diseases. This study examines the impact of tobacco tax, a widely used tobacco control tool, on cardiovascular health based on survey data in China from 2011 to 2020. By exploring a tobacco tax reform in 2015, we show that tobacco tax has a positive effect on cardiovascular health because it could lower tobacco consumption at extensive and intensive margins. Moreover, the policy impact concentrates on vulnerable groups, such as males, the less-educated, and rural respondents.

The public health risks of e-cigarettes: a systematic review

With the relevant anti-smoking policy introduced by the state, people realized the significance of smoking cessation. Therefore, E-cigarettes were regarded as a replacement of cigarettes. The analysis, which is about prevalence trends, the reason about taking systematical review, and the value of systematical review, explains this reviews stand. In this paper, the 9 articles from PubMed was collected and organized for classification.The dangers of human health is caused by the special component of e-cigarettes. Generally speaking, some countries legislate measures related to tobacco control have not fully met the requirements of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and played a role in protecting people from tobacco hazards, displaying in the lack of smoke-free legislation in public places at the national level, relatively low tobacco consumption taxes, no comprehensive ban on tobacco sponsorship. The control of e-cigarettes as tobacco products in many countries may not achieve the purpose of strict regulation. The authority believed to add punishment to people who sell novel flavor e-cigarettes should let them take legal responsibility. Furthermore, schools should increase publicity and education about public and individual health, to promote peoples health awareness and stop them from using e-cigarettes at a relatively young age.The objective of this review is to spot literature and describe the effects of e-cigarettes on public human health. Through researching and comparing articles, this article discusses the reason of smoking, the lack in policies in public health, and the solutions what people should take.

Challenges of Rheumatoid Arthritis Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century

In recent decades, several advances have been made in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both in the diagnostic field and in the therapeutic field. Unfortunately, RA remains poorly studied in black Africa. Epidemiological data are rare and controversial. The estimated prevalence of RA in Africa is about 0% - 2.54%. Risk factors associated with RA must be studied by taking into account special features of black Africa such as the low tobacco consumption in certain regions, the tropical climate and the high frequency of endemic parasitic and viral infections. The initially supposed mildness of RA in black Africa is increasingly challenged. The diagnosis is often made too late because of the scarcity of rheumatologists and ignorance. Diagnostic tools are limited to the clinical data, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and radiographs as the other tools are poorly available. In addition, there are misconceptions in African communities, responsible for loss of sight during follow-up and treatment discontinuations. This is exacerbated by the shortage of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and the inability to afford them. Furthermore, biological agents are very difficult to access. Further studies are essential to better understand the characteristics of RA in black Africa. Thus, collaborations between African and Western research teams seem very important. In order to make available the DMARDs especially biological agents, pharmaceutical companies can contribute through research partnerships. Moreover, governments should provide a better place for chronic inflammatory diseases in the programs against non-communicable diseases. Finally, training must also be promoted to increase the number of specialists and the level of knowledge of other health workers.

Социально-экономические детерминанты потребления табачной продукции в регионах России

Nowadays, it is necessary to analyse the influence of various socio-economic factors on the regional heterogeneity of tobacco consumption in Russia, since there is a lack of econometric studies based on regional data. The present study aims to assess the impact of financial, economic and educational factors on tobacco consumption in Russian regions. To this end, a simultaneous quantile regression approach, resistant to outliers, was applied to separately estimate the influence of the above factors on regions classified as light and heavy smokers. Panel data on 82 Russian regions for the period 2005-2019 was examined. The dependent variable is the percentage of household expenditures on tobacco obtained from a sample survey of household budgets. The main independent variables are education, income, unemployment, loan debt. Control variables include alcohol consumption, male-to-female ratio, divorce rate, proportion of the rural population, binary variables. The invariance of the impact of factors relative to the percentiles of regions was revealed. The greatest differences are observed between light and heavy smokers regions (q10 and q90 groups). Individual loan debts, average per capita income, alcohol consumption, increase in excise tax, divorces and emergence of e-cigarettes are significant for regions with low tobacco consumption and insignificant for regions with high consumption. High consumption regions are greatly influenced by the male-to-female ratio, number of graduates of secondary vocational institutions and proportion of the rural population. Such factors as higher education, crises and anti-tobacco laws are significant for each quintile. The results can be used to improve state policy measures to reduce the consumption of nicotine products. The study is limited by the lack of regional data in terms of age and gender.

The Influence of Doing Shift Work on the Lifestyle Habits of Primary Care Nurses.

Nurses’ lifestyle habits play a key role in promoting healthy lifestyles; although, they may not always be entirely healthy and can be influenced by working conditions. This paper aims to analyze the influence of doing shift work on nurses’ lifestyle habits. Participants (n = 219) were recruited from 27 primary health care centres in Spain. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, working conditions and lifestyle behaviour, assessed by use of an adhoc questionnaire including validated measures. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models were performed. A total of 95% of the nurses reported having an adequate diet; 45.2% did not engage in any type of physical activity; and 85.8% did not smoke, especially women. A total of 60.3% did shift work, especially the younger ones (80.8%; p < 0.001), these nurses being the ones with the worst food habits (81.8%). In contrast, nurses who did shift work, exercised more days a week (69.5%; p < 0.001). The dietary habits of the nurses were adequate. Low tobacco consumption and low adherence to physical activity were observed, especially among women. Shift work harmed eating habits and obesity rates, but was a protective factor in terms of adherence to physical exercise.

Physical Fitness, Dietary Habits and Substance Misuse: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Associations in 7,600 Swedish Adolescents

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, psychological and social changes and a time when habits are formed. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between physical fitness, alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption and dietary habits among adolescents according to the Swedish Physical power, Mental harmony and Social capacity profile (FMS profile). <strong>Methods:</strong> Data were collected from Swedish high school students, 1st – 3rd grade (16–19 yrs), both genders, overall, 7,600 Swedish adolescents using the FMS profile, comprising physical tests and questionnaires concerning lifestyle factors (e.g. physical fitness, dietary habits, alcohol and tobacco use). Participants included in this study met the requirements of inclusion, which were having a complete set of data, e.g. had undergone all physical tests and answered all questionnaires. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 13% self-reported cigarette smoking, while 37% self-reported alcohol consumption. Adolescents who smoked were older (t-test = 9.09,p&lt; 0.001), heavier (t-test = 4.58,p&lt; 0.001) and had greater BMI (t-test = 3.96,p&lt; 0.001). Adolescents who consumed alcohol were older (t-test = 8.78, p &lt; 0.001), heavier (t-test = 4.03,p&lt; 0.001) and taller (t-test = 3.77,p&lt; 0.001). Significant differences were found for all fitness factors, with better mobility, strength and balance in adolescents who did not smoke compared to smokers (Mann Whitney Z test = 2.77, 7.13, 5.77, respectively; allp&lt; 0.001). Regularity of meals and avoidance of sweets and cakes were less prevalent in adolescents who smoked (OR (95% CI): 0.63 (0.59–0.68), 0.71 (0.66–0.77), respectively). <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Among Swedish adolescents, tobacco and alcohol use increase with age. However, physical fitness is consistently protective against tobacco consumption, and dietary habits are mostly protective against alcohol consumption. Physical fitness and low alcohol and tobacco consumption are possible health factors.

Spatial clusters of daily tobacco consumption before and after a smoke-free policy implementation.

This study assessed the spatial dependence of daily tobacco consumption and how it is spatially impacted by individual and neighborhood socioeconomic determinants, and tobacco consumption facilities before and after a smoke-free implementation. Individual data was obtained from the Bus Santé, a cross-sectional survey in Geneva. Spatial clusters of high and low tobacco consumption were assessed using Getis-Ord Gi*. Daily tobacco consumption was not randomly clustered in Geneva and may be impacted by tobacco consumption facilities independently of socioeconomic factors and a smoking ban. Spatial analysis should be considered to highlight the impact of smoke-free policies and guide public health interventions.

PREVALENCE OF SMOKING AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG RURAL POPULATION IN RUSSIA

Significance. Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are the major public health problem. These causes lead to the increased morbidity rates, excess mortality, decreased healthy life expectancy, lost health, deteriorated heredity and health of children, high health costs associated with prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Alcohol consumption and smoking among rural dwellers are important factors hindering effectiveness of programs aimed at demographic, infrastructural and socio-economic development of rural areas. Purpose. To analyze prevalence of bad habits (tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) among rural dwellers both in dynamics (1994-2019) and by main socio-demographic groups. Material and methods. Results of the Russian Monitoring of Economic Situation and Health of the Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE) (1994—2019) served the study information basis. To meet the study purpose, a subsample of rural dwellers residing in settlements with population under 1000 people was developed. The subsample included men and women of five age groups: 1). under 18; 2). 18-25 years; 3). 26-45 years; 4). 46-60 years; and 5). over 60. The total subsample number equalled to 34 833 people, including 15 741 males (45.2%) and 19 942 females (54.8%). The analysis of multivariate distribution of the respondents' answers was carried out using the SPSS 17.0 statistical data processing package. Results. There was a gradual decrease in the share of smokers among rural males from the maximum of 67.4% in 2003 to 47.1% in 2019.The share of smokers among rural females reached its maximum in 2011 (11.9%) with a subsequent decline to 8.7% in 2019, with the share of female somokers increasing 2.8 times during the study period. A smooth upward trend in the share of women smoking in the active childbearing age of 26-45 years was identified (from 4.1% in 1994 to 21.1% in 2019). The average age of the smoking debut decreases with every new generation in both males and females. With age the share of smokers of "quality" tobacco (filtered) decreases with a proportional increase in the share of smokers of "low-quality" tobacco (unfiltered cigarettes, cigarettes, hand-rolled cigarettes). A detailed age-specific analysis of the number of cigarettes smoked shows that the smoking intensity in men decreases with age, while it increases in woman. Gender differences in the dynamics in alcohol consumption were revealed. From 1994 to 2005, a noticeable decrease in the share of alcohol consumers was registered among males (from 69.3% to 59.5%, respectively), while the share of alcohol consumers among females remained almost changed during this perios (42.0%-45.0%). The rise in consumption in 2006 was more pronounced among females (by 26.4%) compared to males (by 21.3%). As a result, the difference between the share of male and female alcohol consumers decreased during the study period (from 27.1% in 1994 to 13.3% in 2019). Increase in the share of alcohol consumers in 1994-2019 equalled to 2.9% in males and 16.7% in females. Among rural males aged 18-25, the share of alcohol consumers decreased by 26.4% in 1994-2019, while among females of the same age it increased by 17.2%. Decreased consumption was observed in the age group of 26-45 years, both among males (from 78.7% in 1994 to 65.1% in 2019) and females (by 4.3% compared to 1994). The trend in alcohol consumption in the 46-60 year group is of the utmost concern: the share of male alcohol consumers decreased from 68.4% to 61.0%, while it increased (by 19.3%) among females, resulting in a lower difference between the level of male and female alcohol consumption (from 38.6% in 1994 to 3.2% in 2019). Among rural dwellers over 60 the situation is similar: men began to drink less (by 13.3%), while women started to drink more (by 10.3%). Conclusion. The study has identified the increased tobacco and achohol consumption among rural females. With a lower tobacco consumption among females compared to males, negative growth trends have been noted in both the share of female smokers in rural areas and intensity of smoking. A trend towards a significant increase in alcohol consumption has been identified in both young females aged 18-25 and women over 45. In 1994-2019, tobacco consumption among rural males of all age groups, especially males under 18 and males aged 18-25 decreased. Alcohol consumption among males also significantly declined, especially in the youth cohort.

Self-Reported and Genetically Predicted Coffee and Tobacco Consumption in Dementia

Background: Studies of self-reported coffee and tobacco consumption on risk of dementia have shown results conflicting with causal genetic studies. We tested the hypotheses that coffee and tobacco consumption causally influence risk of Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementia using a Mendelian randomization study design. Methods: We included 114,551 individuals from the general population. First, we tested whether high self-reported coffee and tobacco consumption were associated with risk of dementia. Second, we examined whether two genetic variants near CYP1A1/2 (rs2472297) and AHR (rs4410790) genes were associated with coffee consumption and whether one variant near CHRNA3 was associated with tobacco consumption in our population. Third, we examined whether genetically predicted high coffee and tobacco consumption due to variation in the genetic variants were associated with risk of dementia. Findings: Self-reported coffee and tobacco consumption were not associated with Alzheimer’s disease; however, moderate coffee consumption was associated with low risk and high tobacco consumption was associated with high risk of non-Alzheimer’s dementia. Genetically predicted tobacco and coffee consumption were not associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementia: hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for Alzheimer’s disease and non-Alzheimer’s dementia were 1·16 (0 · 93-1·44) and 1·23 (0·95-1·58) for +1 coffee cup/day and 1·06 (0.97-1·16) and 0·98 (0·88-1·10) for +1 pack-year, respectively. Interpretation: Neither coffee nor tobacco consumption appears to be related convincingly to risk of Alzheimer’s disease or non-Alzheimer’s dementia. Funding: Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital. Declaration of Interests: None exist. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by institutional review boards and by Danish ethical committees, and was conducted according to the declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in the study.

Characterization of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in dairy farmers

BackgroundAlthough farming is often considered a risk factor for COPD, data regarding the burden and characteristics of COPD in dairy farmers are sparse and conflicting. ObjectivesTo characterize COPD in dairy farmers. Methods4788 subjects entered two parallel COPD screening programs, one in agricultural workers and one in general practice from 2011 to 2015. Subjects with COPD were invited to participate in the characterization phase of the study. Those who accepted were included in two subgroups: dairy farmers with COPD (DF-COPD) (n = 101) and non-farmers with COPD (NF-COPD) (n = 85). Patients with COPD were frequency-matched with subjects with normal spirometry for age, sex and tobacco smoking (pack-years and status) (DF-controls n = 98, NF-controls n = 89). All subjects from these four groups underwent lung function and exercise testing, questionnaires and blood analysis. ResultsThe frequency of COPD in dairy farmers was 8.0% using the GOLD criterion and 6.2% using the lower limit of normal criterion and was similar in non-farming subjects (7.3% and 5.2%, respectively) although dairy farmers had lower tobacco consumption (screening phase). DF-COPD had better pulmonary function, exercise capacity and quality of life, fewer symptoms and comorbidities than NF-COPD, and higher levels of some Th2 biomarkers (MCP-2, periostin) (characterization phase). In farmers, COPD was not related to occupational exposure factors, supporting the role of host factors. ConclusionCOPD secondary to organic dust exposure (dairy farming) appears less severe and associated with fewer comorbidities than COPD secondary to tobacco smoking.

The potential global gains in health and revenue from increased taxation of tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages: a modelling analysis

IntroductionGlobally, a growing burden of morbidity and mortality is attributable to lifestyle behaviours, and in particular to the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). In low-income and middle-income...

Tabacco, alcohol and pemba consumption during pregnancy in French Guyana

The risks to the unborn child from maternal consumption of alcohol, tobacco and substances during pregnancy are well documented in the medical literature. Data on such consumption in Frensh Guyana are scattered and scarce, which prevents prevention policies from being adapted to the local context. To compensate for the inadequacy of the data, a questionnaire survey was conducted in 2017-2018 in Guyana's three maternity units with 789 mothers. Among other things, this survey aimed at gathering data about consumption, about information received on substance consumption during pregnancy, and about the interest of professionals met by the women in these matters. Tobacco and alcohol consumption at the end of pregnancy were respectively 2% and 17%. Two profiles of alcohol consumers emerged: in Cayenne, French women with a high school level of education or more consuming on occasion wine and in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, regular beer consumers among women speaking a language of the river, born in Guyana. Finally, Pemba (clay) was used by 15% of the pregnant women. Although the percentage of smokers is much lower than that of metropolitan France, the percentage of alcohol consumers is significantly higher in Guyana. Women speaking in Creole and French or/and those with a high school level education and more would be less asked about their alcohol consumption. Finally, these women with a high school degree or more believe that they have had information about alcohol risk during school or through prevention campaigns, while those with a primary education level would have been better informed by health professionals. The low tobacco consumption of women in Guyana is in line with that of all the FODs. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy seems slightly higher than in metropolitan France. Alcohol users have specific profiles, linked to the isolation of the municipality of residence, a low level of education, traditional consumption of Pemba and previous experience of miscarriage. The prevalence of Pemba use is a source of concern for professionals, especially when associated with beer consumption. Mobilization of local teams on the issue of alcohol during pregnancy is strong. However, professionals tend to interview women in lower Professions and Socioprofessional Categories, or PCS, more often, as in metropolitan France, with a level of education below the high school degree or whose mother tongue differs from French or French Creole.

Consumo de substãncias estimulantes versus perturbações do sono em estudantes do ensino superior

Introduction: Sleep is a complex physiological phenomenon often associated with insomnia. Objective: To analyse the relationship between stimulating substances consumption (coffee, tobacco, alcohol) and the occurrence of sleeping perturbations and insomnia in higher education students. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study in a sample of 636 higher education students (74.6% female) who answered the Socio-Demographic Data and Stimulating Substancies Consumption Questionnairy. Sleeping Habits Questionnairy; General Sleeping Questionnairy. Results: Sleeping perturbations were observed in 84% of the students, coffee consumption in 58,6%, alcoholic drinks consumption in 65,2% and smoking habits in 32,23%. Conclusions: The probability of insomnia was associated to the variables gender (more frequent in women), low socioeconomic resources, coffee and tobacco consumption.

MODELO TRANSCONTEXTUAL DE LA MOTIVACIÓN EN LA PREDICCIÓN DE ESTILOS DE VIDA SALUDABLES

The present paper has examined the application of the Transcontextual Model of motivation in the prediction of healthy lifestyles of veteran athletes. A sample of 682 Portuguese veteran athletes of both sexes, aged between 30 and 76 years (M = 43.64; SD = 8.25), were administered the following questionnaires: satisfaction of needs basic psychological, self-determination motivation, planned behavioral variables and healthy lifestyles. From the conclusions reached in this work, it is important to emphasize the importance of fostering the basic psychological need of relatedness, since this will favor the intrinsic motivation, promoting greater control of behavior over the intentions of practitioners, thus generating more healthy eating habits, rest habits and lower tobacco consumption.

Prevalencia de obesidad y comorbilidad cardiovascular asociada en los pacientes incluidos en el estudio IBERICAN (Identificación de la poBlación Española de RIesgo CArdiovascular y reNal)

ObjectivesTo analyse the prevalence of obesity and its association with other cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease in a sample of patients from the (Identification of the Spanish population at cardiovascular and renal risk) IBERICAN study. Material and methodsAnalysis of the inclusion visit of the first 5,013 patients of the IBERICAN longitudinal, observational, and multicentre study in which individuals aged 18 to 85 years were included in Primary Care Clinics in the different regions of Spain. In this work obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 30kg/m2. ResultsThe prevalence of obesity was 35.7% (95% CI: 35.0-36.4%), of which 36.6% were men and 34.9% were women (P=0.214), and significantly increasing with age (0.001). The obesity had the associated higher prevalence of hypertension (62.8% vs. 39.4%, P<001), dyslipidaemia (56.9% vs. 47.1%, P<0.001), sedentary lifestyle (40.6% vs. 24.6%, P<.001), diabetes (27.5% vs. 14.8%, P<.001), hyperuricaemia (23.6% vs. 12.7%, P<.001), subclinical organ injury (33.7% vs. 26.5%, P<.001) and cardiovascular disease (21.2% vs. 15.3%, P<.001). The multivariate analysis showed that the variables associated with obesity were: arterial hypertension (P<.001), hyperuricemia (P<.001), sedentary lifestyle (P<.001), diabetes mellitus (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), low educational level (P<0.001) and lower consumption of tobacco (P<0.001). ConclusionsThe analysis of the IBERICAN study shows that approximately one third of the analysed population meets criteria of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. Target organ damage and cardiovascular disease were more frequent in obese patients.

Abstract 3245: The interplay between patient´s features and mutational processes in tobacco related cancers

Abstract Background: There is a complex interplay between smoking and patient demographics in the emergence and development of cancer. We vetted the possible relationship between gender, race and age with mutational processes operating on aerodigestive tract cancers, known to be highly associated to tobacco. Methods: We used an empirical Bayesian approach to identify genomic patterns that lead to mutational processes in head and neck, esophageal, and lung cancers from TCGA database followed by confirmation in independent cohorts (cBioPortal). Results: After confronting clinical information and smoking-habits to molecular findings in those cancers, we identified imprints of different mutational processes in a disease-, gender- and race-specific fashion. Black and female patients - despite their lower tobacco consumption in comparison to whites or males - had tumors with the highest enrichment for tobacco-induced DNA damage. The relevance of mutational signatures related to aging varied across race and gender and were independent from chronological age. The activity of smoking signature was different according to disease histotype, and stage. tumors of never-smoker lung cancer patients showed tobacco-specific mutational signatures, which could suggest the influence of second-hand smoking. Patients with tumors enriched for the smoking mutational signature presented longer survival, whereas those with ageing-enriched signature had poorer prognosis. Conclusions: Mutational processes may unravel connections between patient features and tumorigenesis, particular to race, gender, and tumor type. Therefore, it is paramount to assess those details with greater granularity in every effort of personalized medicine either in preventive or therapeutic approaches. Citation Format: João Paulo da Silveira Nogueira Lima, Rodrigo Couto Duarte Drummond, Monize Nakamoto Provisor Santos, Renan Valieris, Rafael Andres Rosales Mitrowsky, Vladmir Cordeiro Lima, Diana Noronha Nunes, Emmanuel Dias-Neto, Israel Tojal da Silva. The interplay between patient´s features and mutational processes in tobacco related cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3245.

Problematic consumption of substances and video game use in spanish university students depending on sex and place of residence

Aims: This study aims to identify the relationship between consumption of harmful substances and video games use with gender and place of residence in a sample of Spanish university students.Methods: The research was conducted with a sample of 490 university students (M = 22.8 years; SD = 3.63). The main instruments used were the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (ftnd), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Questionnaire of Experiences Related to Video Games (QERV) and the Questionnaire of Habits of Video games Consumption (QHVC).Findings: The results show a relatively low tobacco consumption and video game use and a high alcohol consumption. With regards to gender, women hardly ever drink alcohol and play with video games less often than men. Participants’ place of residence influenced their habits regarding video games, but not regarding tobacco and alcohol consumption. Additionally, regression analyses identified that males were five times more likely to exhibit problematic video game use.Conclusion: Spanish male students, who has grown-up with technology looming, is absorbed easily by new technologies such as social networks and video games. These habits and consumption of harmful substances can cause health problems which must be prevented and treated from educational stratum.

Pilot study of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease in northern and southern Cameroonians.

SummaryAim:The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are similar in the northern and southern regions of Cameroon.Methods:The participants answered a questionnaire concerning their lifestyle. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were evaluated in 192 individuals and biochemical parameters in 50 randomly selected volunteers.Results:Northerners displayed low alcohol and tobacco consumption, little practice of sport but physically demanding professions, and consumption of soybean, refined palm and other polyunsaturated oils. Southerners consumed alcohol, practiced sport, had intellectually based professions, and consumed crude and refined palm oils. Waist circumference and body mass index were higher in the southerners compared to the northerners. Blood glucose levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher among the northerners than the southerners. Among the southerners, there were positive correlations between total cholesterol levels and systolic or diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood glucose levels or diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels and systolic blood pressure.Conclusion:Providing region-adapted, health-related advice for northern and southern Cameroonians would contribute to reducing risk factors for CVD.

Obesity Might Be a Predictor of Weight Reduction after Smoking Cessation.

Background and Objectives Approximately one in five ex-smokers reduces or maintains weight after smoking cessation but little is known about who succeeds to avoid weight gain. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of weight reduction after long-term smoking cessation in a general population. Methods Data was obtained from two Danish population-based cohorts (the Inter99 and the Helbred2006 study). Anthropometric measurements were performed by trained research staff. Out of 3.577 daily smokers at baseline 317 participants had quit smoking at the five-year follow-up for at least one year. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of weight reduction. Results Thirteen percent reduced weight by at least 1 kg and 4% maintained their weight. Quitters with obesity had more than seven times higher odds than normal weight quitters to lose weight (OR 7.13 (95% CI 2.76–19.71)), and they had the largest median weight loss of 4.45 kg. The only other significant predictor of weight reduction was low tobacco consumption at baseline. Conclusions Predictors of weight reduction after smoking cessation were high body mass index and low tobacco consumption at baseline. This study might motivate smokers with obesity to quit smoking and health professionals to give them support.

Effects of Smoking on Ischemic Stroke, Intracranial Hemorrhage, and Coronary Artery Events in Japanese Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

The effects of smoking on the prognosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients are unclear.The Shinken Database 2004-11 (n = 17,517) includes all new patients visiting the Cardiovascular Institute between June 2004 and March 2012. Among these cases, 2,102 NVAF patients were identified. The effects of smoking on ischemic stroke (IS), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and coronary artery events including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were analyzed. Smokers were younger and had lower risk profiles compared with non-smokers. A similar tendency was observed between current and former smokers. In contrast, patients with high tobacco consumption were older and had higher risk profiles, including uncontrolled hypertension, compared with those with low tobacco consumption. In 8,159 patient-years, IS, ICH, PCI, and ACS occurred at rates of 7.7, 2.7, 12.4, and 3.0 per 1000 patient-years. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, smoking was not significantly associated with any adverse event. However, different effects of smoking were observed when stratified by age. In patients ≥ 65 years old, current smokers were independently associated with PCI. Moreover, current smokers and smokers with a total tobacco amount ≥ 800 were marginally and independently associated with IS. In patients < 65 years, current smokers were independently associated with ICH.Age appears to be one of the contributors to differentiation of the effects of smoking on cardiovascular events in our NVAF patients. In elderly patients who still smoke, smoking was associated with the promotion of atherosclerosis or thromboembolism, whereas in young patients it was associated with bleeding.