Smokers are more likely to develop asthma
Former and current smokers are more likely to develop asthma than those who have never smoked, researchers have found.
They compared the smoking habits of 521 newly identified asthma cases
and 932 randomly selected controls from an area in Southern Finland during
a two-and-a-half-year case-control study.
The risk of developing asthma was higher among current smokers (adjusted
odds ratio 1.33, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.00–1.77) and
former smokers, (1.49, 1.12–1.97) than among those who had never
smoked. People who smoked one to 14 cigarettes per day were found to
have a greater risk of developing asthma than those who only smoked occasionally
(1.93, 1.26–2.95 versus 1.25, 0.76–2.06). Unexpectedly, the
risk appeared to be lower among those who smoked 15 cigarettes per day
or more (1.05, 0.71–1.56).
The researchers were surprised by this finding and suggest that smokers
might have changed their smoking habits because of respiratory symptoms
they experienced before asthma was diagnosed.
The researchers also identified individuals who smoked heavily without
developing asthma, and who may therefore be less susceptible to the effects
of tobacco smoke. The researchers say that genetic or other susceptibility
factors may account for the contradictory results that have been reported
in previous studies on smoking and asthma (European Respiratory Journal 2004;24:734).
Miriam Armstrong, chief executive of PharmacyHealthLink, told The Journal
that the charity is pushing for action from central Government over the
health hazards posed by smoking. “This new study from Finland must
help to strengthen our case and we hope that the Government will take
the opportunity in the [forthcoming White Paper on public health] to
state a clear commitment to protect all members of the public from second-hand
smoke by announcing the introduction of smoke-free workplaces and smoke-free
enclosed public places,” she said. |
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