Predictors of continued smoking over 25 years of follow-up in the normative aging study

Objectives. This study tested the hypothesis that high daily cigarette cons umption and addiction to smoking are risk factors for the long-term continu ation of smoking. Methods. Using longitudinal data from 986 male smokers, we entered cigarett es per day, psychological addiction, age, and education into a survival ana lysis as predictors of continued smoking over a 25-year period. Results. Younger men and those who smoked more cigarettes per day were more likely to remain smokers in the long term. Addition and education level we re not significant predictors of continued smoking. Conclusions. Heavier smokers are more at risk than lighter smokers for long -term smoking. It is therefore very important to provide smoking cessation treatments for heavy smokers as early as possible after the initiation of s moking.