title: High frequency of chronic cough and sputum production with lowered exercise capacity in young smokers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamari
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toljamo
authors.forename: Pentti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: Vuokko L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Kinnula
mesh_terms: 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