Effect of current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem on health status in hospitalized patients

This prospective study assessed the relationship between current tobacco us e and history of an alcohol problem to health status in hospitalized patien ts. Factors associated with current tobacco use and history of an alcohol p roblem were also evaluated. Data were collected using a self-administered s urvey distributed by nursing staff to adult inpatients registered on April 27, 1994 at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota affiliated hospitals. Res pondents (N=589, 45% female) were classified into 4 subgroups based on curr ent tobacco use status and history of an alcohol problem: (a) current tobac co use only (n=94, 16%); (b) history of an alcohol problem only (n = 30, 5% ); (c) both (n = 27, 5%); or (d) neither (n = 438, 74%). Patients with both current tobacco use and an alcohol problem history reported markedly lower scores on health status measures of general and mental health compared to the other three subgroups. Moreover, current tobacco use and history of an alcohol problem were each associated with increased psychological distress. Current tobacco use was predictive of a history of an alcohol problem and vice versa. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.