Annette Burns, Dr Judith Strawbridge, School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Professor Luke Clancy, Tobacco Free Research Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, Professor Kathleen Bennett, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Support Unit, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Dr Frank Doyle (Primary supervisor) Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Presenter(s)
Annette Burns SPHeRE PhD Programme in Population Health and Health Services Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Abstract
Aims:
Smoking has been established as the leading preventable cause of death among individuals with mental illness. We investigated the associations among smoking, mental health and chronic disease in older Irish adults.
Methods:
A secondary analysis of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing which surveyed people of 50 years and older (n=8,175) was conducted. Primary outcomes were: diagnosed respiratory, cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Predictors were variables indicating evidence of mental health difficulties, including self-reporting a diagnosed ‘emotional, nervous or psychiatric problem’ (n=693). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations between mental health difficulties and smoking and between mental health difficulties and smoking-related illnesses, adjusting for numerous confounding factors and adding smoking status to the model to determine any mediating or moderating effects.
Results:
Self-reporting a doctor diagnosed mental health problem was associated with increased likelihood of having ever been a smoker (adjusted odds-ratio [AOR] =1.58, 95%CI 1.34–1.87), and increased likelihood of having any of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or smoking-related cancer (AOR for diseases combined=1.31, 95% CI 1.08 – 1.59).
Conclusion:
Self-reported doctor diagnosed mental health difficulties are associated with both smoking and smoking-related illnesses in older adults. Mental health issues may need to be considered to reduce smoking.
Source of funding: The Health Research Board which is the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research.
