Handicap status of exclusive narghile smokers compared to exclusive cigarette smokers: A case control-study

Objective: The aim of the present case–control study was to compare the quality-of-life (QOL) and physical-activity (PA) data of exclusive-narghile-smokers (ENS) with age- and tobacco quantity matched exclusive-cigarette-smokers (ECS). Methods: Males aged ⩾ 20 years who are ENS or ECS for more than 10 years were recruited to participate in this case–control study. Amounts of used tobacco (narghile-years (NY), pack-years (PY)) were determined. QOL (symptoms, activity, impacts and total scores) and PA (daily, sporting, leisure and PA scores) data were collected according the Saint-George’s-respiratory and the Voorrips PA questionnaires. Student t-test and Chi-2 test were used to compare the profiles of the two groups. Pearson correlation-coefficient (r) was used for evaluating the relationship between used quantity of tobacco and PA and QOL data. Results: Two age (44 ± 9 vs. 45 ± 14 years) and quantity of used tobacco (30 ± 32 NY vs. 37 ± 34 PY) matched groups (63 ENS and 54 ECS) were compared. Compared to the ENS group, the ECS group has a worse QOL with significantly higher activities, impact and total scores (respectively, 22 ± 22 vs. 32 ± 25; 11 ± 12 vs. 23 ± 24 and 18 ± 14 vs. 28 ± 20), has significantly lower sporting and PA scores (respectively, 12 ± 8 vs. 8 ± 6 and 17 ± 8 vs. 14 ± 7). There were clear negative dose–effect relationships between sporting (r = −0.39), leisure (r = −0.38) or PA (r = −0.46) scores and quantity of used cigarettes. However, no significant relationship was found between quantity of used narghile and QOL or PA data. Conclusion: Chronic exclusive narghile-use is less detrimental to PA and QOL than chronic exclusive cigarette smoking.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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