Smoking trends in Poland (2012-2021)-insights from the comprehensive cardiovascular risk prevention program

Understanding smoking prevalence trends across demographic groups is crucial for effective public health interventions. Monitoring such trends helps tailor prevention strategies and allocate resources to the most affected populations. These insights support the design of more equitable and effective tobacco control policies.

This study analyzes data from the Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Prevention Program (CCRPP) in Poland (2012-2021) to assess smoking trends by age and gender among program participants.

A repeated cross-sectional observational design was used to analyze data collected from 2012 to 2021, including participants who met the predefined age criteria (35, 40, 45, 50, or 55 years) at the time of enrollment, based on their birth year. Smoking prevalence was examined across age groups and sex to identify trends and disparities.

Smoking prevalence significantly declined from 28.91% in 2012 to 21.77% in 2021 (p < 0.001). The largest absolute reduction was seen in the 45-year age group (from 29.90 to 19.50%, p < 0.001). Across all age groups, men consistently had higher smoking rates than women, with the gap most pronounced in the 55-year group in 2012 (41.01% vs. 30.08%, p < 0.001). Although smoking rates decreased over time in both sexes, this male predominance persisted and remained statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Smoking prevalence declined significantly among participants of the CCRPP, particularly in middle-aged individuals. Persistent sex differences highlight the need for more targeted smoking cessation interventions tailored to men. The CCRPP's large-scale, standardized data collection offers a valuable platform for monitoring national smoking trends and informing future tobacco control policies in Poland.