• Maria Izabel de Ugalde Marques da Rocha, Juan Pablo Barrio-Lera, Gabriel Behr Gomes Jardim, Amanda Brondani Mucellini, Luiza Cirolini, Ivo Emilio da Cruz Jung, Maria Fernanda Mânica-Cattani, SilveiraAron Ferreira daAF, Olmiro Cezimbra de Souza Filho, and CruzIvana Beatrice Mânica daIB.
• Department of Morphology, Health Science Center, UFSM, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• Sao Paulo Med J. 2010 Dec 1; 128 (6): 354359354-9.

Context And ObjectivesDespite the decline in the prevalence of tobacco use in many countries, including Brazil, there are growing numbers of smokers who continue to smoke at a low daily rate, or less frequently (non-daily smokers). This group needs to be better characterized in order to direct preventive actions and public health policies. The aim here was to compare lifestyle, health characteristics and alcoholism problems among young adult smokers, non-daily smokers and non-smokers.Design And SettingThis was a cross-sectional study in which volunteers from the university community and its surrounds in Santa Maria, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were included between October 2007 and January 2008.MethodsOut of 1240 volunteers initially contacted in a university cafeteria, a total of 728 participants of mean age 22.45 ± 3.32 years were selected for final analysis. Data were collected using structured questionnaires.ResultsIn general, it was observed that the non-daily smokers showed intermediate characteristics in relation to the smokers and non-smokers. However, there was a significant association between non-daily smoking and alcohol abuse. The non-daily smokers presented an odds ratio of 2.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.10-5.48) in relation to the daily smokers and an odds ratio of 3.3 (confidence interval: 1.7-6.5) in relation to the non-smokers, with regard to presenting a positive CAGE test, thereby indicating alcohol abuse or dependence.ConclusionThe study suggested that non-daily smoking and alcohol consumption were concomitant behaviors.

15 keywords...

hide…