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Impact of smoking on asthma symptoms, healthcare resource use, and quality of life outcomes in adults with persistent asthma

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Abstract

Background

Smoking habits of asthmatics are similar to those of the general population. However, little attention has been paid to the associations between smoking and asthma-related outcomes.

Objective

To evaluate relationships between cigarette smoking, asthma symptoms, and asthma-related resource utilization in subjects with persistent asthma.

Method

A stratified, random sample of adults from France, Germany, and the UK with persistent asthma were surveyed in 2001 through 2004. Statistical analyses compared asthma symptoms and healthcare resource utilization for cigarette smokers compared with those for non-smokers.

Results

Analyses included 1109 subjects with persistent asthma symptoms in 2001–2003 and 852 subjects with persistent asthma symptoms in 2004. Using multivariate analysis of data from eligible subjects in 2004 that did not have concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adjusting for subjects’ baseline and demographic characteristics, cigarette smokers were more likely to experience nighttime symptoms (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07, 1.97 P = 0.015) and were more likely to use healthcare resources than were non-smokers (P ≤ 0.004). Findings were similar in a secondary analysis of subjects ≤55 years of age.

Conclusions

Cigarette smoking appears to be associated with more asthma symptoms and more ED visits and hospitalizations in adults with persistent asthma.

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Abbreviations

AIDS:

Autoimmune deficiency syndrome

BMI:

Body mass index

CI:

Confidence interval

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder

ED:

Emergency department

GERD:

Gastroenteric reflux disease

GP:

General practitioner

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

ICS:

Inhaled corticosteroid

OR:

Odds ratio

OTC:

Over-the-counter

QoL:

Quality of life

SABA:

Short-acting β-agonist

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Acknowledgement

Authors Swern, Dong, Sazonov Kocevar, Newcomb, and Taylor are all paid employees of Merck & Co., Inc. Author Shavit was supported by a post-doctoral research fellowship from Merck & Co., Inc. This study was funded by a research grant from Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ USA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Oren Shavit

  2. Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co. Inc, Rahway, NJ, USA

    Arlene Swern, Qian Dong & Kathleen Newcomb

  3. Outcomes Research – WS2E65 Global Human Health Marketing, Merck & Co. Inc., P.O. Box 100, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 08889-0100, USA

    Vasilisa Sazonov Kocevar & Stephanie D. Taylor

Authors
  1. Oren Shavit
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  2. Arlene Swern
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  3. Qian Dong
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  4. Kathleen Newcomb
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  5. Vasilisa Sazonov Kocevar
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  6. Stephanie D. Taylor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephanie D. Taylor.

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Shavit, O., Swern, A., Dong, Q. et al. Impact of smoking on asthma symptoms, healthcare resource use, and quality of life outcomes in adults with persistent asthma. Qual Life Res 16, 1555–1565 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9267-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9267-4

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