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Cigarette smoking in Crohn's disease
M D Silverstein1, B A Lashner, S B Hanauer
1Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Cigarette smoking is linked to Crohn's disease (CD) development and persistence. Smokers with CD were more likely to smoke at symptom onset and less likely to quit after diagnosis compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with unknown causes.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between cigarette smoking and CD development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cigarette smoking and Crohn's disease.
- To determine if smoking is a risk factor in the etiology of CD.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 115 CD patients with 109 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) controls.
- Assessed and compared cigarette-smoking habits at symptom onset and post-diagnosis.
Main Results:
- CD patients were significantly more likely to smoke at symptom onset (OR=3.71).
- CD patients were less likely to quit smoking after diagnosis compared to IBS controls (OR=0.35).
Conclusions:
- This study establishes a significant association and temporal relationship between cigarette smoking and Crohn's disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the biologic plausibility and pathophysiologic mechanisms linking smoking to CD.