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Smoking patterns among seniors and the medicare stop smoking program
David R Arday1, Pauline Lapin, Joseph Chin
1Quality Measurement and Health Assessment Group, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. david.arday@amedd.army.mil
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|October 9, 2002
Summary
Older Medicare beneficiaries show higher smoking rates in younger age groups, but quitting interest is increasing. The Medicare Stop Smoking Program states reflect national trends in senior smoking patterns.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Smoking remains a significant public health issue among older adults.
- Understanding smoking behaviors in the Medicare population is crucial for targeted interventions.
- The Medicare Stop Smoking Program (MSSP) aims to address smoking in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize national smoking patterns in community-dwelling older adults covered by Medicare.
- To analyze smoking prevalence and cessation trends in states participating in the MSSP.
- To describe the MSSP demonstration program.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 1996 to 1999.
- Cross-sectional telephone survey data from Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older.
- Estimation of smoking prevalence and cessation attempts by demographic characteristics.
Main Results:
- In 1999, 10.2% of older Medicare recipients were current smokers.
- Smoking prevalence was higher in the 65-74 age group (12.9%) compared to those 75+ (6.1%).
- Blacks (14.7%) had higher smoking rates than whites (10.0%), and quit attempts increased from 37.1% to 42.2% between 1996-1999.
Conclusions:
- Younger Medicare recipients exhibit higher smoking prevalence.
- There is a growing interest in smoking cessation among older Medicare beneficiaries.
- The MSSP states accurately represent national smoking patterns in the elderly Medicare population.