THE PREVALENCE OF SMOKING AND IMPLICATIONS FOR QUALITY-OF-LIFE AMONG THE COMMUNITY-BASED ELDERLY

Although the adverse health consequences associated with smoking among middle-aged adults are well known, the significance of smoking among the elderly is less clear. We used data from three national surveys wi th representative samples of the noninstitutionalized Canadian populat ion 15 years of age and older to investigate the prevalence and conseq uences of smoking among the elderly. The results showed a lower preval ence of smoking among older age groups, a higher prevalence and higher consumption rates among elderly men than among elderly women, a great er likelihood among elderly nonsmokers for men to be former smokers an d for women never to have smoked, and lower consumption rates among el derly men and women than among younger individuals. Results from multi variate logistic regression models suggested an increased risk among e lderly male and female smokers for poorer health ratings, respiratory problems, and selected medication use. These models also showed an inc reased risk for impairment in mobility and high life stress among elde rly male smokers and for low happiness and dissatisfaction with social relationships among elderly female smokers, compared with persons who had never smoked. These preliminary findings suggest that smoking amo ng elderly persons may be associated with several negative quality-of- life outcomes, but the direction of this relationship is not clear. No netheless, these results provide support for the initiation of smoking cessation programs for elderly individuals.