GENDER PECULIARITIES OF SMOKING STATUS, LEVEL OF THE NICOTINE DEPENDENCE, RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND MOTIVATION TO TOBACCO CESSATION

Abstract

Introduction. According to WHO data, COPD is the 4th cause of death in the world. The important problems of COPD are frequent exacerbations, comorbid conditions and late diagnosis. One of the most important factors in the formation of COPD is smoking. Recently, special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the course of COPD in women.The objective of this study was to reveal the peculiarities of smoking status in people of different sexes with different severity of respiratory symptoms in order to further creating the groups of patients on tobacco cessation.Material and methods. 108 smoking patients aged 20 to 60 years were examined in real outpatient practice. Besides the questionnaire, all examined underwent spirometry and CO determination (ppm) in exhaled air.Results. Analysis of the results of the study showed that women started smoking later than men. The number of day-today smoked cigarettes, the smoking index, and the degree of nicotine addiction in women were significantly less that was naturally accompanied by a significantly lower content of CO in the exhaled air. Broncho obstructive syndrome was found in 56% of men and 44% of women; the degree of nicotine addiction and respiratory symptoms were interrelated only in women (r=0.50, p<0.01). The period of withdrawal from tobacco smoking was significantly longer in women despite of the almost equal motivation to smoking cessation and the number of attempts of getting rid of tobacco addiction.Conclusions. Significant gender peculiarities of smoking status the degree of motivation to smoking cessation, their relationship with respiratory symptoms were revealed which requires the introduction of different approaches to the programs of healthy lifestyle in people of different sexes.