title: Stability of smoking status in the US population: a longitudinal investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine smoking transitions in a representative sample of US adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study using data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (wave 1, 2001-02; wave 2, 2004-05).
  
  
  METHODS
  The general US adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 33 309 adults (53.6% female) classified as wave 1 current daily, current non-daily, former daily, former non-daily or never smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Smoking transitions were determined from waves 1 and 2 data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoking status remained stable for the majority of current daily (79.8%), former daily (95.8%), former non-daily (96.3%) and never (97.1%) smokers. Among current non-daily smokers, 54.5% quit smoking while 22.5% increased to daily smoking. Current daily smokers who were older [30-44, odds ratio (OR) = 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49-0.78; 45+, OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.61-0.93] and unmarried (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66-0.96) were less likely to report smoking cessation. Current daily smokers who were Hispanic (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.65-2.81) and college educated (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.05-1.53) were more likely to report smoking cessation. Relapse in former daily smokers was greater in women (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.01-2.06) and lower in older adults (OR = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.27-0.74). Smoking initiation occurred less in women (OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.49-0.87) and Hispanic adults (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.36-0.91) and more in unmarried adults (OR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.37-2.47) and adults with less education (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.09-2.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From 2001 to 2005, smoking status was extremely stable in the US population. Specific gender, race and educational groups need increased prevention and intervention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Corey E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pilver
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazure
authors.forename: Sherry A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McKee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cessation; cigarette; gender; initiation; race; relapse; smoking