Documentation of smoking in scheduled asthma contacts in primary health care: a 12-year follow-up study.

21 Oct 2022

 

Smoking among asthmatics is common and associates with poorer asthma control, more rapid lung function decline and higher health care costs in dose-dependent manner. No previous real-life studies exist, however, on how smoking status and pack-years are documented in scheduled asthma contacts in primary health care (PHC) during long-term follow-up, and how often patients are advised to quit smoking. In this real-life 12-year follow-up study, we showed that out of all scheduled PHC asthma contacts (n = 603) smoking was mentioned only in 17.2% and pack-years only in 6.5%. Smoking data was not recorded even once in 70.9% of never smokers, 64.7% of ex-smokers and 27.3% of current smokers. Smoking including pack-years were mentioned more often if nurse took part on the scheduled contact. For current smokers, smoking cessation was recommended only in 21.7% of their scheduled contacts. Current smokers used more antibiotics and had more unscheduled health care contacts during follow-up.

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Resource information

Respiratory conditions
  • Asthma
Respiratory topics
  • Risk factor: tobacco - smoking
Type of resource
Peer-reviewed article
Author(s)
Takala J, Vähätalo I, Tuomisto LE, Niemelä O, Ilmarinen P, Kankaanranta H