Stubbs_et_al_2018_2.docx (139.77 kB)
Download fileAssociation between depression and smoking: a global perspective from 48 low- and middle-income countries
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 15:19 authored by Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Joseph Firth, Marco Solmi, Najma Siddiqi, Lee Smith, Andre F. Carvalho, Ai KoyanagiBackground:
Smoking is a leading modifiable cause of global morbidity and mortality. Research from high-income countries has found a high prevalence of smoking among people with depression and suggested that this may partially contribute to the increased premature mortality in this population. Limited research has investigated smoking behaviors across the depression spectrum and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study explored the relationship between depression and smoking across 48 LMICs.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional, community-based study comprising 242,952 people [mean age 38.4 (SD=16.1) years, 50.8% females] from the World Health Survey. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between depression (including subsyndromal, brief depressive episode and depressive episodes) and smoking behaviours.
Results:
Overall, the prevalence of current smoking was lowest in Africa (13.5%) and highest in Asia (32.2%). A depressive episode was present in 6.7% of the sample. Compared to people without depression, subsyndromal depression, brief depressive episode, and depressive episodes were all significantly associated with smoking with similar effect sizes (ORs: 1.36-1.49). Countrywide meta-analysis found that the pooled overall OR for smoking in depression was 1.42 (95%CI=1.32-1.52, I2=39.7%). Furthermore, alcohol consumption and male gender were consistently associated with smoking across all regions and smoking was consistently less common in those who were wealthier and had a higher education.
Conclusion:
These data suggest the depression spectrum is consistently associated with high levels of smoking behaivours in LMICs. Given that most of the world’s smokers reside in LMICs, future smoking cessation interventions are required to target people with depression.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
103Page range
142-149Publication title
Journal of Psychiatric ResearchISSN
1879-1379External DOI
Publisher
ElsevierFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng