The Better Quality of Life is without Smoking

The quality of life in old age can be affected by tobacco use, said anti-smoking researchers. And smoking not only shortens the smokers’ life, it also has a significant impact on the quality of life in old age, according to a new study.

Finnish researchers evaluated data from 1,658 white men born between 1919 and 1934 of similar socioeconomic status. At the start of the study, in 1974, all men were healthy. Their cardiovascular risks and smoking habits were evaluated at that time. The men were re-evaluated 26 years later through surveys. At that time, there had been 372 deaths.

Researchers reported that participants who had never cigarettes smoked lived an average of 10 years longer than heavy smokers. The quality of life of the surviving participants was measured using a survey scale that measures health-related quality of life in categories including physical functioning, role limitations caused by health problems, role limitations caused by emotional problems, social functioning, emotional well-being, energy, and general health sensation.

The greatest difference was between those who had never smoked and heavy smokers. Two categories where the differences were particularly severe: physical functioning and role limitations caused by health issues.

In 2000, nearly 70% of the heavy smokers in 1974 had quit. However, the researchers write that the effect of smoking status at the start of the study still had a strong impact on death and quality of life.

Quality of life was found to deteriorate in line with the number of cigarettes smoked each day. Therefore, men who had never smoked had the best quality of life, whilst heavy smokers had the poorest quality of life. Smoking had the greatest impact upon "physical functioning" and "role limitations caused by health issues".

Researchers conclude that only smoking cessation is one of the most important changes needed to achieve the goal of having a better quality of life.