Subjective Health of Male Ex-Smokers: Relationship with Time Since Smoking Cessation, Intensity and Duration of Tobacco Consumption

Background. To examine the relationship of subjective health with time since smoking cessation and amount and duration of tobacco consumption among male ex-smokers. Methods. Pooled analysis of three household interview surveys conducted in 1993 (n = 8,494), 1995 (n = 2,556), and 1997 (n = 2,624) on samples representative of the noninstitutionalized population aged 16 and over in Spain. Results. After controlling for the main confounders, ex-smokers with smoking burden ≤13 pack-years had a lower frequency of suboptimal health (fair, poor, or very poor) than current smokers (OR, 0.59; 95% Cl, 0.38–0.91) during the first year after cessation; thereafter, it reached a value similar to that of never-smokers 11 years or more after cessation. Among those with burden >13 pack-years, frequency of suboptimal health during the first year after cessation was higher than in current smokers (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.00–1.63). Afterwards, it fell progressively, approaching the value of never-smokers 11 years or more after cessation. Frequency of suboptimal health in ex-smokers increased with duration (years) of smoking (P linear TREND = 0.045), but did not vary with the number of cigarettes smoked. Conclusions. Suboptimal health declined with time since smoking cessation, to reach the frequency of never-smokers. Longer duration of tobacco consumption is associated with worse subjective health.