Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Tobacco smoking-related risk for iron deficiency anemia: A case-control study
Ankur Vivek1, Rajeev Mohan Kaushik1, Reshma Kaushik1
1Department of General Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Background:
Globally, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health problem. Tobacco smoking as a risk factor for anemia is often ignored.
Aims:
To study the tobacco smoking-associated risk for IDA.
Abstract:
This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Dehradun, India from January 2019 to December 2020. One hundred ten patients having IDA (serum ferritin < 15 mcg/l) and an equal number of controls were randomly selected and assessed regarding their tobacco smoking status and type, quantity, and duration of tobacco used.
Results:
Seventy-six (69.1%) patients with IDA were tobacco smokers and were predominantly males (51cases, 67.1%) and beedi smokers (52 cases, 68.4%). The odds ratios (ORs) for the association of smoking tobacco (cigarette and beedi collectively), cigarette, and beedi with IDA were 7.60 (p < 0.0001), 2.79 (p = 0.01), and 5.68 (p < 0.0001), respectively. OR for developing IDA was more among light smokers (OR = 7.72, p < 0.0001) and increased with duration of smoking (p < 0.0001). IDA was not significantly associated with confounding risk factors like malnutrition (OR = 1.00, p = 1.00), low socioeconomic status (OR = 0.64, p = 0.21), dietary habits (OR = 1.43, p = 0.45), and place of residence (OR = 0.93, p = 0.88).
Conclusions:
Tobacco smoking has a strong association with IDA. Both beedi smoking and cigarette smoking have a significant association with IDA. The risk of IDA is more among light smokers and is duration-dependent.
Related Concept Videos
Statistical Methods for Analyzing Epidemiological Data
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Observational Studies
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
Causality in Epidemiology
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...

