Association of smoking with urgency in older people

To evaluate the association of smoking with urgency in older people.

A population-based survey involving 1,059 people aged 60-89 years. A stratified sampling method was used and data were collected by interviews. The response rate was 82%. The indicators were urgency, former and current smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking. Prevalences of urgency were calculated for 15-year age groups of the two genders. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the age-adjusted association of urgency with smoking, use of alcohol and coffee drinking in the whole study population and separately in the two gender groups.

The prevalence of urgency was lowest among younger men (6.6%) and highest among older women (19.5%). In the whole study population including both genders the current smokers were at greater risk of suffering from urgency [OR (odds ratio) 2.76; 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.43-5.32] than the never-smokers while the OR of urgency for former smokers was 1.63 (95% CI 0.97-2.74). In the separate models for the two genders the current male smokers (OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.13-5.73) and the former female smokers (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.14-6.0) were at greater risk. The OR for current female smokers was 2.54 (95% CI 0.79-8.22), but the group was very small. Alcohol use and coffee drinking were not associated with urgency.

Smoking is associated with urgency in older people. Especially current smokers are at greater risk than never-smokers. The prevalence of urgency is higher among women and is increased in both genders with advancing age. The study material being cross-sectional the causal relationship cannot be confirmed.