Smoking and health related quality of life (SF-36): A population-based study in Campinas, Brazil
Smoking persists being a global and relevant health problem, pointed-out to be one of the major risk factor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and early death; however, studies about the association between smoking and health related quality of life (HRQL) are scarce in Brazil and Latin America. The aim of this study was analyse the HRQL according to smoking on adults of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
METHODS: It is a population-based, cross-sectional study, carried out with data from the Campinas Health Survey developed in 2008/2009. The dependent variables were the eight scales of the instrument “The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Survey”, version 2 (SF-36) and two components summary measures – physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). The principal independent variable was smoking: never smoker, former smoker and smoker. Mean and confidence interval of the SF-36 scale scores and components were estimated according to smoking, by simple and multiple linear regression models, with svy commands of STATA 11.0.
RESULTS: The sample was constituted of 957 adult individuals (mean age of 37.5 years). Comparing with never smokers, smokers had the lower score mean in all SF-36 scales, except in physical functioning and role-physical; and among the former smokers, the lower scores were observed in vitality and mental health. A reduction of MCS score was observed among smokers and former smokers, both in the general population and among men. In the female population, the reduction in MCS was observed in smokers comparing with never smokers.
CONCLUSIONS:
Smoking is significantly and negatively associated with HRQL in the studied population. This result point out to the necessity of attention to the mental health of smoker and former smoker individuals to increase their well-being. It is also important considering that best mental health can result in more self-care in relation to health behaviours.