Smoking trajectories from midlife to old age and the development of non-life-threatening health problems: a 34-year prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To examine how trajectories of smoking observed over a 34-year period, were associated with the progression of mobility impairment, musculoskeletal pain, and symptoms of psychological distress from midlife to old age.

METHOD: The Swedish Level of Living Survey (LNU) and the Swedish Panel Study of the Oldest Old (SWEOLD) were merged to create a nationally representative longitudinal sample of Swedish adults (aged 30-50 at baseline; n=1060), with four observation periods, from 1968 through 2002. Five discrete smoking trajectory groups were treated as predictors of variation in health trajectories using multilevel regression.

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no differences in mobility impairment between smoking trajectory groups. Over time all smokers, particularly persistent and former heavy smokers, exhibited faster increases in mobility problems compared with persistent non-smokers. Additionally, all smoking groups reported more pain symptoms than the non-smokers, at baseline and over time, but most of these differences did not reach statistical significance. Persistent heavy smokers reported elevated levels of psychological distress at baseline and over time.

CONCLUSION

Smokers, and even some former smokers, who survive into old age appear to be at increased risk for non-life-threatening conditions that can diminish quality of life and increase demands for services.