The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37031

Norbert Schmitz¹, Johannes Kruse¹, and J Kugler, Prof Dr². (1) Psychosomatic Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany, Bergische Landstr. 2 H19, D-40605 Duesseldorf, Germany, +49-221-9224723, schmitzn@uni-duesseldorf.de, (2) Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany, Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany

Epidemiologic studies have reported an association between smoking and mental disorders. However, little is known about the impairment associated with nicotine dependence. In this study we assessed health related quality of life, disability, and psychiatric comorbidity in adults with and without nicotine dependence. We analyzed data from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey, a nationally representative multistage probability survey conducted from 1997 to 1999. The sample included 3353 subjects aged 18 to 65 years. Main outcome measures were rates of smoking, 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36) scores, nicotine dependence and other mental disorders assessed by a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The population prevalence of current smoking was 36.2 % and the 1-year prevalence rate of nicotine dependence was 9.4 %. Nicotine dependent smokers reported poorer quality of life than subjects without nicotine dependence. More than half of the subjects with nicotine dependence fulfilled criteria for at least one other mental disorder. Subjects suffering from nicotine dependence reported greater disability in the last month and in the last year. Our results suggest that it is important to distinguish nicotine dependence from smoking when evaluating the health status of populations. Focusing on smoking alone may result in misleading conclusions when evaluating the success of tobacco control since the impairment associated with nicotine dependence is ignored.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should have a better understanding of the impairment associated with nicotine dependence.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.