A COMPARISON OF SMOKERS AND EX-SMOKERS HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE

Background The aim of the study was to assess the difference in health status between current smokers and ex-smokers of five years or greate r standing. Methods A group of current smokers and a group of ex-smoke rs (of five years or greater standing) in Aberdeen, north-east Scotlan d,were each sent a postal questionnaire containing SF-36, EuroQol, con dition-specific acid sociodemographic questions. The subjects were 300 0 adults (1500 smokers, 1500 ex-smokers) randomly selected from the re cords of nine general practices. The main outcome measures were the ei ght scales within the SF-36 health profile, EuroQol tariff scores and assessment of respiratory symptoms. Results Smoking cessation leads to an improvement in a range of respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life. However, in some cases other socio-economic character istics are better indications of quality of life than smoking status. Conclusions Smoking cessation leads to a significant improvement in a range of respiratory symptoms. There appear to be significant differen ces between smokers' and ex-smokers' perceived quality of life. Howeve r, these differences are relatively small and in the majority of cases are better explained by variation in age, housing and economic status . When promoting smoking cessation to patients it is possible to highl ight expected improvements in respiratory symptoms, impact on global q uality of life and longer-term disease effects.