Smoking and blood pressure among adults in Singapore

In a nationwide survey of blood pressures in Singapore, the prevalence of current smoking was estimated at about 27% for all persons aged 20 years and above. There is male predominance of 5:1, with the peak age among them at 40-49 years. The majority are cigarette smokers; with mean daily consumption at 16.1 for males and 10.7 for females. The study has shown no significant differences in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures between cigarette smokers and non-smokers at every age-group from 20 to 69 years. There is also no higher prevalence of hypertension among smokers. These findings confirm various other epidemiological studies, especially those in the West where smoking is at a much higher level. Smoking as a risk factor in ischaemic heart distance cannot, therefore, be attributed to its long-term effects on the blood pressure. It is also not likely to be a cause of essential hypertension.