[Attitudes to smoking and characteristics of the habit among a group of young asthmatics compared to a group of non-asthmatics].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the attitudes toward smoking and smoking patterns of young male asthmatics with the attitudes and habits of a group previously studied non-asthmatic men.


METHODS
Volunteers responded individually to as anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
Responses were received from 488 asthmatics men (55.83%) of the sample, with 11 not responding) and 386 non-asthmatics (44.16%, with 27 not responding). The mean age of subjects was 19.91 +/- 2.76 yr. Smoking asthmatics numbered 154 (31.56%) non-asthmatic smokers numbered 207 (53.6%) (p < 0.001). Eighteen asthmatics (3.68%) and 6 (1.55%) non-asthmatics were ex-smokers. The mean age of initiation was 15.20 +/- 2.42 for asthmatics and 15.08 +/- 2.41 for non-asthmatics. Smoking was established at a mean age of 16.56 +/- 2.04 yr for asthmatics and 16.47 +/- 2.18 yr for non-asthmatics. Sixty-two percent of asthmatics smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes/day whereas 55% of non-asthmatics smoked between 11 and 20 cigarettes/day. The mean Fagerström score were 2.59 +/- 2.2 for asthmatics and 4.66 +/- 2.2 for non-asthmatics (p < 0.001). Fifty-four percent of asthmatics and 47% non-asthmatics were considering quitting. Sixty-five percent of asthmatics and 44% of non-asthmatics had previously tried to quit (p < 0.01) and mean duration of abstinence was 4.6 +/- 3.8 months and 3.8 +/- 4.6, respectively (p < 0.05). No differences were found in the reason for starting to smoke. We found that the companions and friends of asthmatics smoked less than did the friend and acquaintances of non-asthmatics (p < 0.001), although that differences was not found for relatives, the friends, relatives and companions of smoking asthmatics smoked more than did those of non-smoking asthmatics.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of smoking is lower among asthmatics than among non-asthmatics and asthmatics smoke fewer cigarettes/day and have a lower level of addiction. There are no differences in age of or reasons for starting to smoke. Asthmatics have fewer smoking friends than do non-asthmatics and non-smoking asthmatics have fever still. the desire to quit smoking is high in both groups.
de Granda Orive
J I
JI
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Militar de Burgos, Madrid.
Peña Miguel
T
T
Reinares Ten
C
C
González Quijada
S
S
Escobar Sacristán
J
J
Sáez Valls
R
R
Herrera de la Rosa
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma; D001290:Attitude; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires