[Occurrence of smoking in a southern Moravian District in comparison with the Prague 8 District]

From the literature ensues that in 1995 we cannot expect that in the Czech Republic the ratio of smoking in the mortality from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular diseases will decline, as compared with 1990. The prevalence of smoking assessed in an epidemiological study in 1992 in the district of Uherské Hradistĕ was in adults 31% and in ex-smokers 16%. In Prague 8 the prevalence was similar-32% and 17%. Adults aged 21-60 years smoked most frequently (in Uherské Hradistĕ from 21 to 40, in Prague from 41-60 years). Statistically more significant prevalence of smoking was recorded in patients with chronic bronchitis than in those with bronchial asthma in Prague 8 (55% and 32%) and in Uherské Hradistĕ (37% and 15%). Patients with bronchial asthma smoked roughly twice less frequently in Uherské Hradistĕ than in Prague 8 (15% and 32%) and the same applies to chronic bronchitis (37% and 55%). In the district of Uherské Hradistĕ 81% of adults consider smoking a health hazard and 77% consider even passive smoking a health hazard. From this it may be concluded that as regards smoking the population of Uherské Hradistĕ is smarter than in Prague 8 and it may be expected that health education can gain another 12% of adults to quit smoking. In particular health professionals should change their attitude to smoking.