The association of smoking and smoking cessation with prevalent and incident symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in the general population.

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a well-established risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases. However, the relationship between cigarette smoking and the risk of developing mental health conditions remains largely elusive. This study examined the relationship between cigarette smoking as well as smoking cessation and prevalent and incident symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in the general population.

METHODS

In a cohort of 15,010 individuals from the Gutenberg Health Study (aged 35-74 years at enrollment), prevalent (at baseline from 2007 to 2012) and incident symptoms (at follow-up from 2012 to 2017) of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance were determined by validated questionnaires and/or medical records. Smoking status, pack-years of smoking in current and former smokers, and years since quitting smoking in former smokers were assessed by a standardized computer-assisted interview.

RESULTS

In multivariable logistic regression models with comprehensive adjustment for covariates, smoking status was independently associated with prevalent and incident symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10), whereas this association was weaker for anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 ≥ 3) and sleep disturbance (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 > 1). Among current and former smokers, smoking ≥30 or ≥10 pack-years, respectively, yielded in general the highest effect estimates. Smoking cessation was weakly associated with the prevalence and incidence of all outcomes, here consistent associations were observed for prevalent symptoms of depression.

LIMITATIONS: The observational nature of the study does not allow for causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that cigarette smoking is positively and that smoking cessation is negatively associated with symptoms of common mental health conditions, in particular of depression.