Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104409

Robert Cameron McMillen, PhD¹, Holli Hitt², and Arthur G. Cosby, PhD¹. (1) Social Science Research Center, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762, 662.325.2742, robert.mcmillen@ssrc.msstate.edu, (2) Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Problem/Objective. Both smoking and chronic pain are common and can adversely impact health, yet few studies have explored their co-occurrence. The obejective is to determine the prevalence and associations of pain and smoking among adults in six southern states.

Methods. A randomized regional telephone survey of 3,637 adults was conducted in 2004. Respondents were asked about their sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and their experiences with pain. Bivariate and multivariate analyses for smoking and pain were performed.

Results. Among respondents, 24.7% were smokers, 36.4% had experienced pain on at least a monthly basis, 11.0% had both, and 50.1% were smokers and/or had experienced pain. In multivariate analyses, current smoking was independently associated with a 50% increased risk of experiencing pain (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8). Among adults who reported pain on a monthly basis, current smoking was associate with a 54% increased risk of experiencing severe pain (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.1-2.1). The risk of pain for smokers was greatest among younger adults. The odds that a smoker with 18-24 years of age would experience pain were 2.5 times greater than those for a nonsmoker and the odds that a smoker with 25-44 years of age would experience pain were 1.7 times greater than those for a nonsmoker, whereas there was no significant increased risk of experiencing pain for older smokers.

Conclusions. This study highlights both the frequency and the co-occurrence of smoking and experiencing pain, as well as the greater risk of pain for younger smokers.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Describe the increased risk of experiencing pain in younger adult smokers

Keywords: Smoking,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.