Prevalence of current smoking and associated factors in older adults in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of current smoking and its associated factors in adults aged 50 years and older in Brazil.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the ELSI-Brazil study, encompassing 9,412 adults aged 50 years or over. A multivariate model using Poisson regression with a robust estimator was employed, estimating prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The prevalence of current smoking was 17.04%. It was positively and independently associated with male gender, age up to 62 years, living without a partner, illiteracy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, poor or very poor sleep quality, and alcohol intake more than once a month. Conversely, systemic arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and repetitive strain injuries showed an inverse and independent association with current smoking.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of current smoking among adults over 50 years old in Brazil was approximately 17%, with associations found with certain sociodemographic conditions and self-reported comorbidities.