[Smoking in Spain, 1945-1995. A retrospective analysis based on the Spanish National Health Interview Surveys].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse trends in cigarette consumption in Spain between 1945 and 1995.


METHODS
Prevalence rates of daily cigarette smoking were derived from the individual information collected in the Spanish National Health Interview Surveys (1993, 1995 and 1997) for the period 1945-1995.


RESULTS
In males, the prevalence rate in 1945 was 42.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40,1-44,7%), increased till 59.1% in 1975 (95% CI, 58,0-60,2%), levelled-off during the decade 1975-1985, and decreased till 48.9% in 1995 (95% CI, 48,1-49,7%). In females, the prevalence rate of cigarette smoking was less than 5% till the 1970s, and it begun to steadily increase till the end of the study period (22,5%; 95% CI, 21,9-23,1%).


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis shows the different dynamics of the smoking epidemic among men and women in Spain.
Fernández
Esteve
E
Servicio de Prevención y Control del Cáncer. Institut Català d'Oncologia. Barcelona. Departamento de Salud Pública. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona. efernandez@ico.scs.es
Schiaffino
Anna
A
García
Montse
M
Saltó
Esteve
E
Villalbí
Joan Ramon
JR
Borràs
Josep Maria
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires