title: Trends in tobacco consumption in three different birth cohorts of elderly of São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of birth cohorts reflect the historical differences in physical and social environments. The objectives of the present study were to describe the tobacco consumption and to evaluate the behavioral trends with respect to smoking in three different birth cohorts of a population-based sample of elderly individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of three cross-sectional studies conducted with elderly individuals of 60-64 years of age interviewed in 2000 (birth cohort 1936-1940; n=427), 2006 (birth cohort 1942-1946; n=298) and 2011 (birth cohort 1947-1951; n=355) in a population-based sample from the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The interviewees were participating in a prospective cohort study entitled Health, Well-Being and Aging (Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento [SABE]). Data on tobacco consumption were self-reported and interviewees were then classified as never smokers, former smokers or current smokers. Linear model for categorical data was used to test differences on tobacco consumption between three birth elderly cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men were more likely than women to be smokers. Being evangelical and having more schooling constituted protective factors against smoking. Regarding trends, the tobacco consumption of the men did not change in any of the three cohorts studied (p=0.7454), whereas there was an increase in the number of women smokers, principally former smokers, over the periods evaluated (p=0.0189).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the anti-smoking policies implemented in Brazil were effective in women of this age group; however, different prevention strategies are required to target elderly men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gabriela.wagner@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriela Arantes
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: School of Politics, Economy and Business, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Angélica 100, Jardim das Flores, 06110-295 Osasco, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Marcelo Monteiro da
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lebrão
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Avenida Doutor Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 419, Cerqueira César, 05403-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yeda Aparecida de Oliveira
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dirce Maria Trevisan
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zanetta
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: Aged; Cohort study; Smoking; Trends