Smoking habits in a hospitalized population: 1970-1980

The smoking habits of 23,953 hospitalized men and women aged 20 to 80, interviewed in nine United States cities between 1970 and 1980, were examined. Comparisons were made of age-adjusted smoking rates in 1970-1975 vs 1976-1980, stratified by sex, race, and educational level. An overall decrease in smoking exposure between the time periods studied was observed: a decline in rates of current cigarette smokers and an increase in use of cigarettes containing less than or equal to 12 mg tar. Nevertheless, among current smokers, there was no reduction in the proportions of those who smoke 31+ cigarettes daily. An enhancing effect of higher education on rates of smoking cessation and use of cigarettes containing less than or equal to 12 mg tar was observed. In both time periods, proportionately more Black than White men were smokers, although the difference was smaller in college educated groups. These findings point up the limited effectiveness of public health education about smoking in lower socioeconomic groups, and suggest that in the future, lung cancer and other diseases for which smoking is a major factor will be increasingly social class related diseases.