title: Prevalence of smoking and its associated factors with smoking among elderly smokers in Malaysia: findings from a nationwide population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The determination of smoking prevalence and its associated factors among the elderly could provide evidence-based findings to guide the planning and implementation of policy in order to will help in reducing the morbidity and mortality of smoking-related diseases, thus increase their quality of life. This paper describes the rate of smoking and identifies the factor(s) associated with smoking among the elderly in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 2674 respondents was obtained via a two-stage sampling method in proportion to population size. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a set of standardized validated questionnaire. Data was weighted by taking into consideration the complex sampling design and non-response rate prior to data analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the factor/s associated with smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of non-smokers, ex-smokers and current smokers among Malaysians aged 60 years and above were 36.3 % (95 % CI = 32.7-39.8), 24.4 % (95 % CI = 21.2-27.5) and 11.9 % (95 % CI = 9.5-14.3), respectively. Current smokers were significantly more prevalent in men (28.1 %) than in women (2.9 %), but the prevalence declined with advancing age, higher educational attainment, and among respondents with known diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Multivariable analysis revealed that males (aOR, 18.6, 95 % CI 10.9-31.9) and other Bumiputras (aOR 2.58, 95 % CI 1.29-5.15) were more likely to smoke. in addition, elderly with lower educational attainment (aOR, 1.70, 95 % CI 1.24-7.41) and those without/unknown hypertension also reported higher likelihood to be current smokers (aOR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.35-2.83). However, there were no significant associations between respondents with no/unknown diabetes or hypercholesterolemia with smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In short, smoking is common among elderly men in Malaysia. Therefore, intervention programs should integrate the present findings to reduce the smoking rate and increase the smoking cessation rate among the elderly in Malaysia and subsequently to reduce the burden of smoking-related disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; Institute for Public Health, Jalan Bangsar, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Jalan Bangsar, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jasvindar
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Jalan Bangsar, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Klang Health Department, Bandar Botanic Clinic, 41200 Klang, Selangor Malaysia.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Melaka Manipal Medical College, Jalan Pengkalan Batu, Bukit Baru, 75150 Melaka Malaysia.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, 50590 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kuang Kerian, 15000 Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Teknologi Mara, Sg Buloh, 47000 Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suthahar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, University of Defence, Kem Sg. Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ambigga
keywords: Elderly; Malaysian; Population-based study; Prevalence of smoking