Cigarettes smoking among patients with schizophrenia

Abstract EN

Background: previous studies have found high prevalence of cigarettes smoking in schizophrenia.

The increased prevalence persists even after adjustment for gender, marital status, alcohol use and socioeconomic status. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking among schizophrenic out patients Gender distribution and its relation to the onset of schizophrenia. Method: Smoking habit was assessed in 204schizophrenic patients attending outpatients department in Al Hussein General Hospital, Karbala governorate, Iraq.

All patients had fulfilled the ICD10 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia.

Smoking rate was compared with general population control subjects. Results: Current schizophrenic smokers were 92 (45%) while 68(33%) of the controls were current smokers (X2= 5.92, p= 0.01), (table-1) Schizophrenic Males smoked more than non-schizophrenic males 74 (65%) vs.

49 (43%) X2=11.15 p = <0.001, and no females to females difference.

More male patients smoked than female patients (65%) versus (20%) X2= 10.83 p= <0.001. Schizophrenic patients were heavier smokers (smoked 20 cigarettes per day) than controls X2 = 15.49 p=<0.001.

The mean of cigarettes smoked per day for a patient was 30.6 and for control 17.8 (table-2 Two third of patients claimed to start their smoking before the onset of schizophrenia, 72% of males, and 44% of females.

(X2= 19.56, p=<0.001 (table-3- ) More controls were former smokers (6%) than patients (2%) Conclusion: There is a gender difference in the prevalence of smoking in schizophrenic patients, and its relation to the onset of disease.

High prevalence was found only in males.

Smoking may be a risk factor for developing schizophrenia in males only.