High frequency of chronic cough and sputum production with lowered exercise capacity in young smokers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate how cigarette smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms, fitness, and anthropometric measures in young smokers.


METHODS
The prevalence of smoking was investigated in a cohort of young military draftees (n = 1130; 98% between 18–21 years of age) in Northern Finland. The associations of smoking with respiratory symptoms, physical fitness (12-min running test), education, and anthropometric measures were analysed using a self-reported questionnaire with high response rate (80%).


RESULTS
Almost half (46.5%) of the young males were daily smokers, 17.4% being occasional smokers. The prevalence of self-reported chronic cough and sputum production was high in daily smokers (40.7%) and occasional smokers (26.9%) compared to non-smokers (12%). These symptoms were significantly associated with the smoking history. Aerobic fitness was worse in regular smokers compared to non-smokers (P < 0.001). Smokers had a higher body mass index than non-smokers (P = 0.035). In the regular smokers, the more active the subjects were in sports, the less they smoked when evaluated by pack year history (P < 0.001). Smokers had a lower educational level than occasional smokers or, especially, non-smokers (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of young smokers with chronic cough and sputum production was very high, posing a serious risk to their future health.
Hamari
Anna
A
Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Toljamo
Tuula
T
Nieminen
Pentti
P
Kinnula
Vuokko L
VL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult