Online Program

281191
Smoking prevalence among cancer survivors by state: A population based estimate


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Taghrid Asfar, MD, MSPH, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Stacey L. Tannenbaum, PhD, RD, LD/N, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Tainya Clarke, MPH, MS, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Laura A. McClure, MSPH, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Jenelle Lin, BS, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Introduction: Due to advances in cancer treatment, approximately 13.3 million cancer survivors are living in the US. Smoking among survivors decreases treatment efficacy and increases the risk of treatment complications, cancer recurrence, and the development of other chronic illnesses. Our objective in this study was to provide descriptive state-level estimates of the prevalence and trends in smoking among survivors. Methods: To determine prevalence of current smoking among survivors age ≥18 years (N=30,239; representing 15,133,691 people), we used data from the 1997-2010 National Health Interview Survey. Trend analysis with weighted linear regression of smoking prevalence by year and group (with and without cancer) was performed to look for time trends of smoking among survivors.

Results: Overall, 17.6% of survivors were current smokers compare to 21.8% of persons with no cancer history. The prevalence of smoking among survivors was over 20% in 17 states with adequate sample size; approximately one third of Southern states were in the highest quartile of smoking prevalence. Smoking prevalence among survivors was highest in Kentucky (30.7%, 95% CI 27.2 - 34.4) and lowest in Massachusetts (11.8%, 9.1 - 15.1) and Connecticut (11.8%, 8.8 - 15.7). Across years, survivors showed a similar downward trend to those with no cancer history.

Conclusions: Smoking prevalence among survivors varies by state. Public health efforts should assess the needs of survivors for effective smoking cessation and prevention interventions at the state level, and allocate appropriate resources to address those needs, particularly in states with highest prevalence.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain the health consequences of smoking on cancer survivors during treatment and beyond. Assess smoking prevalence in cancer survivors among the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and rank states accordingly. Describe trends in smoking prevalence among survivors and compare it with trends in smoking prevalence among individuals with no history of cancer across 14 years.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I’m a tobacco control researcher with long standing experience in conducting smoking cessation trials. I served as project director on multiple smoking cessation interventions in the US and abroad and published papers on the topic of fielding in smoking cessation interventions in diverse settings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4264.0: Emerging Research in Tobacco