Smoking in relation to anxiety and depression: Evidence from a large population survey: The HUNT study

Abstract

Smoking is reported to be associated with depression and anxiety. The present study (a) examines these associations taking comorbidity into account, (b) investigates possible confounders, (c) examines how former smokers compared to current and never-smokers in terms of anxiety and depression, and if anxiety and depression decline by time since cessation. Participants (66%) aged 20-89 years in a population-based health survey (N=60,814) were screened employing the HADS. (a) The association with smoking was strongest in comorbid anxiety depression, followed by anxiety, and only marginal in depression. Associations were stronger in females and younger participants. (b) Variables partly accounting for the association comprised somatic symptoms, socio-demographics, alcohol problems, and low physical activity. (c) Anxiety and depression were most common in current smokers, followed by quitters, and then never-smokers. No decline in anxiety or depression was found with time since cessation. Previous studies of associations between depression and smoking might have overestimated the association when ignoring comorbid anxiety.

Relação entre gênero e sintomas depressivos e ansiosos em tabagistas

“…Na avaliação de acordo com o gênero, as mulheres tabagistas apresentaram mais sintomas de ansiedade do que os homens; resultado semelhante ao encontrado por Mykeltun et al 15 e Issa et al 20 . Já no que diz respeito à outra variável pesquisada -os sintomas depressivos -, também foi observado que as mulheres apresentavam sintomas mais intensos do que os homens, o que concorda com o que foi descrito por Husky et al 32 , Romans et al 33 e Perkins et al 34 .…”

“…Vários autores pesquisaram a associação entre o tabagismo e os transtornos de ansiedade [12][13][14][15] , o mesmo ocorrendo com relação à depressão [15][16][17][18] ; no entanto, os mesmos não realizaram a avaliação da associação dos sintomas de ansiedade ou depressão com a gravidade da dependência da nicotina nos diferentes gêneros.…”

Metabolic syndrome and risk of mortality in middle-aged versus elderly individuals: the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

“…Low physical activity was defined as less than 1 h leisure time physical activity per week and smoking as current cigarette smoking [28]. Total cholesterol was included as a continuous variable.…”

Cigarette Smoking and its Association with Overlapping Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Functional Dyspepsia, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome

“…Thus, such patients prefer to smoke to attain relief from their anxiety or stress. A large epidemiological study showed that smoking was associated with anxiety (30), which has been reported as the risk factor of disease overlaps among GERD, dyspepsia, and IBS (8).…”