Smokers In Brazil Research Articles

TOBACCO USE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN MEXICO AND BRAZIL

Abstract Older adults in Brazil and Mexico have high lifetime tobacco exposure, which is an important modifiable dementia risk factor. They also have lower levels of education, which is associated with lower cognitive reserve. This study examines how tobacco use is associated with cognition and how this association differs by education among older adults in Brazil and Mexico. Data included adults 50 and older in the 2015 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS, n=14,018) and the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI, n=9,409). The outcome was a global cognitive score, calculated with standardized cognitive tasks. Tobacco use was defined as current, former, and never smoker. Linear regression models were used to test differences in cognitive function by tobacco use, adjusted by sex, educational level, rural/urban area, chronic disease and included the interaction between smoking and education. Current and former smokers represented 17% and 37% of the sample in Brazil and 13.4% and 27.4% in Mexico, respectively. Current smokers in both countries were more likely to be men and be younger. However, current smokers in Brazil were more likely to have lower educational levels whereas those in Mexico were more likely to have 8+ years of education. In Brazil, current smokers had lower cognitive scores than never smokers (B= -0.06; 95%CI: -0.11; -0.01). In Mexico, current and former smokers had higher cognitive scores than never smokers (B=0.09 ; 95%CI: [0.05; 0.13] and B=0.10 [0.07;0.13], respectively). Cognitive scores for current smokers were significantly lower as education increased in Mexico.

Características, epidemiologia e riscos do consumo do narguilé

Objetivo: Apresentar informações sobre a epidemiologia, características e riscos do consumo do tabagismo no consumo de Narguilé. Revisão bibliográfica: Fumar é considerado como uma enfermidade crónica e é relacionado à ocorrência do câncer, de doenças cardíacas e morte. Nos últimos anos, pesquisadores e governos buscaram juntos combater a pandemia tabagica. Por outro lado, o tabaco continua sendo uma das drogas mais utilizadas por jovens, principalmente quando consumido de forma não convencional. O narguilé é um dispositivo para fumar característico da cultura oriental e que popularizou no ocidente a partir dos anos 90. Estudos em diversos países tem demonstrado prevalências de utilização preocupante, e apontando a juventude como principal grupo de vulnerabilidade para a experimentação. Os riscos do consumo de narguilé vão desde maior exposição a nicotina, monóxido de carbono e outros produtos químicos, à alteração de ritmo cardíaco, doenças contagiosas e canceres. Considerações finais: Informações equivocadas têm servido para mascarar os efeitos nocivos do produto, e que o narguilé pode ser mais prejudicial que o cigarro industrial.

Electronic cigarettes and narghile users in Brazil: Do they differ from cigarettes smokers?

BackgroundCigarette smoking prevalence is declining, however, other tobacco products have emerged recently, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and narghile (hookah/shisha/waterpipe). Narghile sales are not prohibited in Brazil, but e-cigarettes are. Accurate estimates of such products are key for proper monitoring and control. ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of e-cigarettes and narghile use and to investigate whether sociodemographic characteristics of individuals who are using these products differ from those who are using manufactured cigarettes. MethodsUsing a nationally representative sample survey of Brazilians aged 12–65 years in 2015, we estimated the prevalence rates of each tobacco products within the last 12-months, stratified by macro-region, municipality size, sex-at-birth, sexual orientation, color/race, age-group, and monthly income. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to understand determinants of each tobacco product use, considering the complex sample design. ResultsE-cigarette, narghile, and cigarette prevalence rates were estimated at 0.43%, 1.65% and 15.35%, respectively, corresponding to around 0.6million e-cigarette users, 2.5 million narghile users and 23.5 million cigarette users. Non-heterosexual individuals were a most-at-risk group for both e-cigarette/narghile and cigarette use. Despite similarities, e-cigarette/narghile users were younger and had higher socioeconomic status than cigarette users. Additional analyses showed that recent cigarette use seems to be more associated with e-cigarette/narghile use among youth than among adults. ConclusionsOur findings may provide valuable information about e-cigarette/narghile use in Brazil. Prevention strategies targeted to youth to both narghile and e-cigarettes use should be implemented together, which might be one strategy to prevent the emergency of a new generation of smokers in Brazil.

Dispositional mindfulness, affect and tobacco dependence among treatment naive cigarette smokers in Brazil.

INTRODUCTIONThe current study examined associations between affective and smoking-related factors, and dispositional mindfulness among smokers seeking enrollment in a cessation program in Brazil.METHODSParticipants were first-time treatment seeking adult smokers (N=90) on a waiting list for a government-sponsored cessation program. Pearson’s bivariate correlations assessed relationships between the primary outcome variable (dispositional mindfulness) and each explanatory variable (nicotine dependence, depression, anxiety, and state positive/negative affect). Linear regression analyses evaluated the unique contribution of each explanatory variable when controlling for the others.RESULTSThe sample (N=90) was predominantly female (n=71) and most (79%) had 11 or fewer years of education. In the final regression model, a total of 36.2% of the variance in dispositional mindfulness was accounted for by positive affect (B=0.81, p<0.001), negative affect (B= -0.44, p=0.02), and level of nicotine dependence (B=1.48, p=0.007).CONCLUSIONSPositive and negative affect, as well as nicotine dependence, account for a significant and sizable amount of the variance in dispositional mindfulness. Future mindfulness interventions for smoking cessation should be designed to address individual differences in affect, as well as nicotine dependence, in order to better tailor treatment to address baseline differences in mindfulness.

An Experimental Feasibility Study of a Hybrid Telephone Counseling/Text Messaging Intervention for Post-Discharge Cessation Support Among Hospitalized Smokers in Brazil.

Text messaging interventions are effective. Despite high utilization of smartphones, few studies evaluate text messaging for cessation in middle-/lower-income countries. Initiating tobacco treatment in hospitals is an effective but underutilized approach for reaching smokers. We evaluated a hybrid phone counseling/text messaging intervention for supporting cessation among hospitalized smokers in Brazil. We used an experimental design to assess the feasibility and potential effect size of the intervention. Participants (N = 66) were recruited from a university hospital and randomized in a 2:1 ratio into TXT (one session of telephone counseling plus 2 weeks of text messaging; N = 44) or Standard Care control group (N = 22). Participants lost to follow-up were counted as smokers. Counselors sent 1186 texts, of which 924 (77.9%) were received by study participants. Participants rated the TXT content as "helpful" (80.4%) and the phone counseling length to be "just right" (95.1%). Although the study was not powered to evaluate abstinence rates, we did observe a higher prevalence of abstinence in the TXT compared to control group at both 1-month follow-up (25.0% vs. 9.1%) and 3-month follow-up (31.8% vs. 9.1%). Carbon monoxide-verified abstinence at month 3 was also higher in TXT (20.5% vs. 4.5%). This hybrid telephone/text intervention should progress to full-scale effectiveness testing as it achieved favorable outcomes, was acceptable to participants, and was readily implemented. This type of intervention has strong potential for expanding the reach of hospital-initiated tobacco treatment in middle-/lower-income countries. This study extends research on hospital-initiated smoking cessation by establishing the feasibility of a novel text-messaging approach for post-discharge follow-up. Text messaging is a low-cost alternative to proactive telephone counseling that could help overcome resource barriers in middle- and lower-income countries. This hybrid texting/counseling intervention identified smokers in hospitals, established rapport through a single telephone follow-up, and expanded acceptability and reach of later support by using text-messaging, which is free of charge in this and other low-income countries. The favorable cessation outcomes achieved by the hybrid intervention provide support for a fully powered effectiveness trial.

Prevalence and correlates of light and non-daily smoking in Brazil: Results from a nationwide representative survey

BackgroundThe research of light (≤10 cigarettes per day) and non-daily smokers in developing countries including Brazil is scarce despite the high prevalence of these groups among smokers and health risks associated to low-level smoking. ObjectiveTo describe health and smoking characteristics of Brazilian adult light and non-daily smokers. MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Research survey (n=48,282). ResultsThe prevalence of current manufactured cigarette smoking in the total sample was 12.4%. Among these smokers, 12.8% were non-daily smokers (NDS), 47.4% were light smokers (LS) and 39.8% were moderate/heavy smokers (MHS). Bivariate analysis showed that non-daily smoking was associated with higher odds of poor self-rated health, binge drinking and lung diseases compared to never smokers (ORs=1.2; 5.9 and 1.9). Light smoking was associated with higher odds of poor self-rated health, binge drinking, depression, use of sleeping pills and lung diseases (ORs=1.3; 4.3; 1.4; 1.2 and 2.0). After controlling for sex and age, non-daily smoking was associated with lung disease (OR=2.2) and light smoking with depression and lung diseases (ORs=1.3 and 1.8). Smoking levels were associated with living with same-level smokers in bivariate and multivariate analyses. ConclusionA large proportion of smokers in Brazil are light and non-daily smokers, carrying substantial health risks related to tobacco use. Longitudinal research is needed to provide further evidence of associations found in this study. Public health policies must take the different smoking patterns into consideration to effectively target all smokers and reduce the harmful consequences of tobacco worldwide.

Evolution of tobacco use indicators according to telephone surveys, 2006-2014.

The goal of this study was to describe the trend of tobacco-use indicators for adults in Brazilian state capitals. Simple linear regression was used to analyze tobacco-use trends according to data from telephone survey VIGITEL between 2006 and 2014. The prevalence of smokers in Brazil dropped 0.645p.p. per year this period, from 15.6% (2006) to 10.8% (2014). There was a decrease per sex, schooling, major regions, and in most age groups. The prevalence of former smokers dropped from 22.2% (2006) to 21.2% (2014); smoking 20 cigarettes or more per day went from 4.6% (2006) to 3% (2014). Passive smoking at home dropped 0.614p.p. per year since 2009, and was 9.4% in 2014. Passive smoking at the workplace decreased 0.54p.p. a year, reaching 8.9% in 2014. The prevalence trend of smokers is declining for sexes, schooling, and major regions in almost all age groups. This indicates that the global target of 30% reduction in tobacco use until 2025 is possible to be reached, reflecting the effectiveness of control actions for this risk factor in Brazil.

Smokers in Brazil: who are they?

BackgroundBrazil has experienced a large decline in smoking prevalence due to several tobacco control policies that were implemented in the past 25 years. Previous population-wide studies found a consistent reduction...

Smoking trend indicators in Brazilian capitals, 2006-2013

This study aims to analyze the trend of indicators related to smoking in the capitals of Brazil from 2006 to 2013. Information on smoking trends extracted from the survey of risk and protective factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are analyzed through telephone interviews - VIGITEL conducted from 2006-2013 for the adult population in Brazilian capitals. To estimate the trend, the simple linear regression model was used. The prevalence of smokers in Brazil showed a relative reduction of 0.62% for each year of the survey, ranging from 15.6% in 2006 to 11.3% in 2013. A decrease was observed in both sexes in all age ranges except between 55 and 64 years in all education levels and regions. The total population of former smokers remained stable, with a reduction for men. Smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day decreased from 4.6% (2006) to 3.4% (2013), or 0.162 percentage points per year. Passive smoking at home decreased among women 13.4% (2009) to 10.7% (2013), a reduction of 0.72% per annum. Passive smoking at work has remained stable over the period. The smoking trend reduced in the period in most indicators, reflecting the importance of the tobacco control actions in the country.

How smokers may react to cigarette taxes and price increases in Brazil: data from a national survey

BackgroundDespite being the third largest tobacco producer in the world, Brazil has developed a comprehensive tobacco control policy that includes a broad restriction on both advertising and smoking in indoor public places, compulsory pictorial warning labels, and a menthol cigarette ban. However, tax and pricing policies have been developed slowly and only very recently were stronger measures implemented. This study investigated the expected responses of smokers to hypothetical price increases in Brazil.MethodsWe analyzed smokers’ responses to hypothetical future price increases according to sociodemographic characteristics and smoking conditions in a multistage sample of Brazilian current cigarette smokers aged ≥14 years (n = 500). Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between possible responses and different predictors.ResultsIn most subgroups investigated, smokers most frequently said they would react to a hypothetical price increase by taking up alternatives that might have a positive impact on health, i.e., they would “try to stop smoking” (52.3%) or “smoke fewer cigarettes” (46.8%). However, a considerable percentage responded that they would use alternatives that would reduce the effect of price increases, such as the same brand with lower cost (48.1%). After controlling for sex age group (14–19, 20–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years), schooling level (≥9 versus ≤9 years), number of cigarettes per day (>20 versus ≤20), and stage of change for smoking cessation (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation), lower levels of dependence were positively associated with the response “I would try to stop smoking” (odds ratio [OR], 2.19). Young age was associated with “I would decrease the number of cigarettes” (OR, 3.44). A low schooling level was strongly associated with all responses.ConclusionsTaxes and prices increases have great potential to stimulate cessation or reduction of cigarette consumption further among two important vulnerable populations of smokers in Brazil: young smokers and those of low educational level. The results from the present study also suggest that seeking illegal products may reduce the impact of increased taxes, but does not eliminate it.

Outcome predictors of smoking cessation treatment provided by an addiction care unit between 2007 and 2010

To analyze the predictors of smoking cessation treatment outcomes in a sample with a high rate of medical and psychiatric disorders and addictions. Analysis of predictors of success of a 6-week treatment provided by an addiction care unit (CAPS-AD) to 367 smokers in Brazil from 2007 to 2010. Forty variables were collected at baseline. Success was defined as abstinence from smoking for a period of at least 14 consecutive days, including the last day of treatment. Twenty variables were selected for the logistic regression model. The only condition correlated with successful treatment after logistic regression was smoking one's first cigarette 5 minutes or more after waking (beta = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.11-3.10, p = 0.018). Subjects with hypertension and alcohol use disorders and those who were undergoing psychiatric treatment showed success rates comparable to or greater than the average success rate of the sample (34.2-44.4%). These findings support the importance of the variable time to first cigarette in treatment outcomes for a sample with a high rate of clinical and psychiatric disorders. Good success rates were observed for pharmacological treatment, which was combined with group therapy based on cognitive-behavioral concepts and integrated into ongoing treatment of other addictions and psychiatric disorders.

Assessing the impact of cigarette package health warning labels: a cross-country comparison in Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico

To assess the impact of different health warning labels (HWL). Data from the International Tobacco Control Survey (ITC Survey) were analyzed from adult smokers in Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico, each of which used a different HWL strategy (pictures of human suffering and diseased organs; abstract pictorial representations of risk; and text-only messages, respectively). Main outcomes were HWL salience and cognitive impact. HWLs in Uruguay (which was the only country with a HWL on the front of the package) had higher salience than either Brazilian or Mexican packs. People at higher levels of educational attainment in Mexico were more likely to read the text-only HWLs whereas education was unassociated with salience in Brazil or Uruguay. Brazilian HWLs had greater cognitive impacts than HWLs in either Uruguay or Mexico. HWLs in Uruguay generated lower cognitive impacts than the text-only HWLs in Mexico. In Brazil, cognitive impacts were strongest among smokers with low educational attainment. This study suggests that HWLs have the most impact when they are prominent (i.e., front and back of the package) and include emotionally engaging imagery that illustrates negative bodily impacts or human suffering due to smoking.

Escala Razões para Fumar Modificada: tradução e adaptação cultural para o português para uso no Brasil e avaliação da confiabilidade teste-reteste

To translate the Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRSS) to Portuguese, to submit it to cross-cultural adaptation for use in Brazil and to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the translated version. An English-language version of the MRSS was translated to Portuguese by Brazilian doctors who have thorough knowledge of the English language. A consensus version was produced by a multidisciplinary group including two pulmonologists, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. This version was back-translated to English by an American translator. Cross-cultural adaptation of the final version was evaluated in a sample of 20 healthy smokers. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by applying the translated version of the scale in 54 healthy smokers on two distinct occasions, 15 days apart. This translated version of the MRSS was well understood by 95% of the smokers, indicating excellent cross-cultural equivalence. The degree of reliability of the answers in two different occasions was almost perfect for two questions, substantial for ten questions, moderate for eight questions, and low for one question. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the motivational factors obtained on the two different occasions, calculated according to previously published theoretical models, were higher than 0.7 for six of the seven subscales. The Portuguese-language version of the MRSS shows satisfactory cross-cultural equivalence and test-retest reliability. It can be a useful tool in the evaluation and treatment of smokers in Brazil.

Relação entre gênero e sintomas depressivos e ansiosos em tabagistas

INTRODUÇÃO: O tabagismo apresenta, freqüentemente, comorbidade com ansiedade e depressão, patologias que são mais freqüentes entre as mulheres. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre o grau de dependência de nicotina e os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão em homens e mulheres tabagistas. MÉTODO: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, com uma amostra por conveniência de 475 tabagistas da população geral. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: o Questionário de Tolerância de Fagerström, o Inventário de Depressão de Beck, o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck e uma Ficha com dados sociodemográficos. RESULTADOS: Nas mulheres, os sintomas de ansiedade (F = 9,691; p &lt; 0,01) e depressão (F = 16,23; p &lt; 0,01) apresentaram associação com a gravidade da dependência da nicotina. Entre os homens, apenas os sintomas de ansiedade (F = 7,219; p = 0,001) estiveram associados com o grau de dependência de nicotina. CONCLUSÃO: As tabagistas mais graves têm mais sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, enquanto os tabagistas mais graves apresentam mais ansiedade. Estes achados apontam para a importância de avaliar esses tipos de sintomas ao serem tratados tabagistas no Brasil.

Population-based evidence of a strong decline in the prevalence of smokers in Brazil (1989-2003).

To evaluate the evolution in smoking indicators in the adult Brazilian population between 1989 and 2003. We compared age-adjusted prevalence ratios and means for smoking indicators, stratified by age, sex and sociodemographic variables, obtained from two comparable household surveys that used probabilistic sampling of the Brazilian population aged > 18 years (n = 34 808 in 1989 and n = 5000 in 2003). Between 1989 and 2003, there was a substantial decrease in the prevalence of smoking (from 34.8% to 22.4%; age-adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.60-0.70) and a modest reduction in the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day (from 13.3 to 11.6; age-adjusted difference, -1.8; 95% CI, -2.6 - -1.0). Reductions in the prevalence and intensity of smoking were greater among males, younger age groups and higher socioeconomic strata. The prevalence of smoking in the adult Brazilian population declined by 35% between 1989 and 2003, or an average of 2.5% per year. This exceptional reduction surpasses those seen in other countries that implemented wide-ranging and rigorous policies for controlling smoking during the same period. The more intense decline in smoking in younger age groups was consistent with the concentration of efforts of the Brazilian tobacco control programme to prevent the onset of smoking among youths and the total prohibition of cigarette advertising. We recommend the intensification of programme initiatives targeting women and less economically favoured population strata.

Cotinine Concentration in Smokers from Different Countries: Relationship with Amount Smoked and Cigarette Type

This four-country study examined salivary cotinine as a marker for nicotine intake and addiction among smokers in relation to numbers and types of cigarettes smoked. Smoking characteristics of cigarette smokers in Brazil, China, Mexico, and Poland were identified using a standard questionnaire. Cotinine concentration was measured using a saliva sample from each participant; its relationship with numbers and types of cigarettes smoked was quantified by applying regression techniques. The main outcome measure was salivary cotinine level measured by gas chromatography. In all four countries, cotinine concentration increased linearly with cigarettes smoked up to 20 per day [11.3 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 10.5-12.2)] and then stabilized as the number of cigarettes exceeded 20 [6.8 ng/mL per cigarette (95% confidence interval, 6.3-7.4) for up to 40 cigarettes]. On average, smokers of regular cigarettes consumed more cigarettes and had higher cotinine levels than light cigarette smokers. Cotinine concentration per cigarette smoked did not differ between regular and light cigarette smokers. Results suggest a saturation point for daily nicotine intake and minimal or no reduction in nicotine intake by smoking light cigarettes.