Characteristics of current smokers, former smokers, and second-hand exposure and evolution between 1985 and 2007

The aim of this study was to assess trends in the prevalence of adult smoking habits between 1985-1987 and 2005-2007 in three distinct areas of France and their contribution to coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates.

Participants were recruited as part of the French Monitoring trends and determinants in Cardiovascular disease survey in 1985-1987 (n=3760), 1995-1997 (n=3347), and 2005-2007 (n=3573). They were randomly selected from electoral rolls after stratification for sex, 10-year age group (35-64 years), and town size. Smoking habits were analyzed by questioning the participants about earlier or current consumption, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, age at first cigarette, pipe tobacco and cigarillo consumption, quit attempts, age at quitting, and second-hand exposure. Predicted CHD death rates as a function of smoking were predicted with the SCORE risk equation.

In men, a significant decrease in tobacco exposure (from 40 to 24.3%) between 1985-1987 and 2005-2007 was observed. In women, the prevalence of current smokers increased from 18.9 to 20% and that of former smokers rose from 8.7 to 25.5%. In both men and women, average daily cigarette consumption and second-hand exposure to smoke fell between 1995-1997 and 2005-2007. Predicted CHD death rates as a function of smoking trends decreased in men (range 10-15%) but increased in women (range 0.1-3.6%).

This study found divergent trends in the prevalence of smoking in men and women aged between 35 and 64 years over the period of 1985 to 2007. These changes may have contributed to the decline in CHD death in men but not in women.