title: Effect of current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem on health status in hospitalized patients.
abstract: This prospective study assessed the relationship between current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem to health status in hospitalized patients. Factors associated with current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem were also evaluated. Data were collected using a self-administered survey distributed by nursing staff to adult inpatients registered on April 27, 1994 at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota affiliated hospitals. Respondents (N = 589, 45% female) were classified into 4 subgroups based on current tobacco use status and history of an alcohol problem: (a) current tobacco use only (n = 94, 16%); (b) history of an alcohol problem only (n = 30, 5%); (c) both (n = 27, 5%); or (d) neither (n = 438, 74%). Patients with both current tobacco use and an alcohol problem history reported markedly lower scores on health status measures of general and mental health compared to the other three subgroups. Moreover, current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem were each associated with increased psychological distress. Current tobacco use was predictive of a history of an alcohol problem and vice versa.
authors.affiliation: Nicotine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. patten.christi@mayo.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Schneekloth
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Offord
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Wolter
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013315:Stress, Psychological