Exposure to tobacco smoke, concurrent short-term symptoms of respiratory, allergic, cardiovascular morbidities and health-services use among young adults in Kuwait
Abstract
Background: Exposure to tobacco smoke remain major public health concerns due to its' association with multiple morbidities and increased health-services use. This cross-sectional study aimed to, (i) assess the prevalence of exposure to tobacco smoke (first-hand and second-hand) among students at a public university; (ii) assess the prevalence of tobacco smoke-related concurrent morbidities; (iii) assess the prevalence of health-services use (≥ 1 vs. none) during the past one-year; and (iv) evaluate the association between demographics, tobacco smoking, concurrent morbidities, and health-services use during the past year.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2022 among undergraduate students at Kuwait University using a structured electronic questionnaire. Participants were recruited as a sample of convenience. The prevalences (%) of exposure to tobacco smoke (1st hand and 2nd hand at home) were estimated. Self-reported respiratory symptoms, physician-diagnosed morbidities, and health-services use (≥ 1 visit vs. none) during the past year were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, concurrent morbidities, and health-services use during the past year. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to interpret the final model.
Results: Of 1,323 participants, the majority were Kuwaiti (87.5%) and female (75.8%). The prevalence of…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 1,323 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Tobacco and COPD: presenting the World Health Organization (WHO) Tobacco Knowledge Summary
- Comparative effects of e-cigarette smoking on periodontal status, salivary pH, and cotinine levels
- Association between exposure to environmental pollutants and increased oral health risks, a comprehensive review
- Influence of gestational window on offspring vascular health in rodents with in utero exposure to electronic cigarettes
- Natural products as kinase inhibitors in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and clinical trials
- Nicotine in electronic cigarettes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.