title: The Influence of Second-Hand Cigarette Smoke Exposure during Childhood and Active Cigarette Smoking on Crohn's Disease Phenotype Defined by the Montreal Classification Scheme in a Western Cape Population, South Africa.
abstract: Smoking may worsen the disease outcomes in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), however the effect of exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke during childhood is unclear. In South Africa, no such literature exists. The aim of this study was to investigate whether disease phenotype, at time of diagnosis of CD, was associated with exposure to second-hand cigarette during childhood and active cigarette smoking habits.
  
  
  
  A cross sectional examination of all consecutive CD patients seen during the period September 2011-January 2013 at 2 large inflammatory bowel disease centers in the Western Cape, South Africa was performed. Data were collected via review of patient case notes, interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical examination by the attending gastroenterologist. Disease phenotype (behavior and location) was evaluated at time of diagnosis, according to the Montreal Classification scheme. In addition, disease behavior was stratified as 'complicated' or 'uncomplicated', using predefined definitions. Passive cigarette smoke exposure was evaluated during 3 age intervals: 0-5, 6-10, and 11-18 years.
  
  
  
  One hundred and ninety four CD patients were identified. Cigarette smoking during the 6 months prior to, or at time of diagnosis was significantly associated with ileo-colonic (L3) disease (RRR = 3.63; 95% CI, 1.32-9.98, p = 0.012) and ileal (L1) disease (RRR = 3.54; 95% CI, 1.06-11.83, p = 0.040) compared with colonic disease. In smokers, childhood passive cigarette smoke exposure during the 0-5 years age interval was significantly associated with ileo-colonic CD location (RRR = 21.3; 95% CI, 1.16-391.55, p = 0.040). No significant association between smoking habits and disease behavior at diagnosis, whether defined by the Montreal scheme, or stratified as 'complicated' vs 'uncomplicated', was observed.
  
  
  
  Smoking habits were associated with ileo-colonic (L3) and ileal (L1) disease at time of diagnosis in a South African cohort.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Division, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tawanda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chivese
authors.affiliation: Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Tonya M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Esterhuizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Abigail Raffner
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Basson
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watermeyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult