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Cigarette smoking gives more respiratory symptoms among women than among men. The Nord-Trondelag Health Study (HUNT)

Langhammer, A ; Johnsen, R ; Holmen, J ; Gulsvik, A and Bjermer, Leif LU (2000) In Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 54(12). p.917-922
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that women are more vulnerable to the effect of tobacco smoking compared with men. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of reported respiratory symptoms and diseases according to smoking burden, age and sex. DESIGN: Questionnaire in a cross sectional population based study. SETTING: The BONT (Bronchial obstruction in Nord-Trondelag) study is part of a comprehensive health survey of all inhabitants aged above 19 years in the county of Nord-Trondelag, Norway, which was carried out from 1995 to 1997. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 65 717 subjects, 71.3% of the total population aged 20-100, answered the main questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: In all, 12.7% men and 12.1% women reported episodes of... (More)
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that women are more vulnerable to the effect of tobacco smoking compared with men. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of reported respiratory symptoms and diseases according to smoking burden, age and sex. DESIGN: Questionnaire in a cross sectional population based study. SETTING: The BONT (Bronchial obstruction in Nord-Trondelag) study is part of a comprehensive health survey of all inhabitants aged above 19 years in the county of Nord-Trondelag, Norway, which was carried out from 1995 to 1997. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 65 717 subjects, 71.3% of the total population aged 20-100, answered the main questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: In all, 12.7% men and 12.1% women reported episodes of wheezing or breathlessness during the past 12 months, 8.8% men and 8.4% women reported that they had or had had asthma, 7.5% men and 8.2% women had ever used asthma medication, and 4.0% men and 3.0% women reported chronic bronchitis. Thirty per cent of men and 31% of women were smokers, and average pack years of smoking were 15.9 and 10.3, respectively. Among previous and current smokers, significant more women reported episodes of wheezing or breathlessness, current asthma and persistent coughing compared with men with the same smoke burden (pack years) and daily number of cigarettes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of reported asthma and use of asthma medication was higher than reported in previous Scandinavian studies. Respiratory symptoms increased by smoking burden. Comparing the prevalence of symptoms and current asthma among women and men with the same smoke burden or daily cigarette consumption, women seemed to be more susceptible to the effect of tobacco smoking than men. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
asthma, chronic bronchitis, coughing, tobacco smoking
in
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
volume
54
issue
12
pages
917 - 922
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:11076988
  • scopus:0033728728
ISSN
1470-2738
DOI
10.1136/jech.54.12.917
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
04a9e5ba-9aeb-41b8-b3a2-b0a8c697ca8f (old id 1116635)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:37:13
date last changed
2022-04-05 02:24:32
@article{04a9e5ba-9aeb-41b8-b3a2-b0a8c697ca8f,
  abstract     = {{STUDY OBJECTIVE: Studies have indicated that women are more vulnerable to the effect of tobacco smoking compared with men. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of reported respiratory symptoms and diseases according to smoking burden, age and sex. DESIGN: Questionnaire in a cross sectional population based study. SETTING: The BONT (Bronchial obstruction in Nord-Trondelag) study is part of a comprehensive health survey of all inhabitants aged above 19 years in the county of Nord-Trondelag, Norway, which was carried out from 1995 to 1997. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 65 717 subjects, 71.3% of the total population aged 20-100, answered the main questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: In all, 12.7% men and 12.1% women reported episodes of wheezing or breathlessness during the past 12 months, 8.8% men and 8.4% women reported that they had or had had asthma, 7.5% men and 8.2% women had ever used asthma medication, and 4.0% men and 3.0% women reported chronic bronchitis. Thirty per cent of men and 31% of women were smokers, and average pack years of smoking were 15.9 and 10.3, respectively. Among previous and current smokers, significant more women reported episodes of wheezing or breathlessness, current asthma and persistent coughing compared with men with the same smoke burden (pack years) and daily number of cigarettes. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of reported asthma and use of asthma medication was higher than reported in previous Scandinavian studies. Respiratory symptoms increased by smoking burden. Comparing the prevalence of symptoms and current asthma among women and men with the same smoke burden or daily cigarette consumption, women seemed to be more susceptible to the effect of tobacco smoking than men.}},
  author       = {{Langhammer, A and Johnsen, R and Holmen, J and Gulsvik, A and Bjermer, Leif}},
  issn         = {{1470-2738}},
  keywords     = {{asthma; chronic bronchitis; coughing; tobacco smoking}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{917--922}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health}},
  title        = {{Cigarette smoking gives more respiratory symptoms among women than among men. The Nord-Trondelag Health Study (HUNT)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.54.12.917}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/jech.54.12.917}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}