Smoking and depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly in Hong Kong

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2004 Sep;110(3):195-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00342.x.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between smoking and depressive symptoms among Chinese elderly in Hong Kong.

Method: Cross-sectional data on smoking and depressive symptoms from 56,167 Chinese elderly aged 65 or over in Hong Kong were analysed using logistic regression.

Results: Current smokers and former smokers were more likely to have depressive symptoms than never smokers. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in males and females respectively were 1.62 (1.34-1.96) and 1.43 (1.20-1.70) for current smokers, and were 1.18 (0.99-1.40) and 1.29 (1.12-1.47) for former smokers. Former smokers were less likely to have depressive symptoms than current smokers (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70-0.92).

Conclusion: Smoking is positively associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly. Health care workers should be vigilant about the detection of depressive symptoms in elderly smokers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • China / ethnology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hong Kong
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / ethnology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires