Exposure to second-hand smoke increases risk of death

NEW US research has found that exposing children to secondhand smoke can increase their risk of death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) death in adulthood, with adults exposed to second-hand smoke also showing a higher risk of death from several other conditions.

The study by researchers at the American Cancer Society investigated the associations between childhood and adult second-hand smoke exposure and ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and death from all causes.

The researchers gathered data from among 70,900 men and women who had never smoked. The majority of participants were between the ages 50 to 74 at the beginning of the study.

They were asked to answer questions about their exposure to second-hand smoke, both during childhood and as adults, and they were then followed for a period of 22 years.

The results showed that participants who reported living with a daily smoker throughout their childhood had a 31 per cent higher risk of mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared to those who did not live with a smoker, which the researchers calculated corresponds to around 7 additional deaths per year per 100,000 neversmoking study participants.

Although the study measured deaths from COPD, the researchers also added that the increase found in fatal COPD implies that living with a smoker during childhood could also increase risk of nonfatal COPD.

In addition, more than ten hours a week of exposure to second-hand smoke exposure as an adult was also associated with a 42 per= cent higher risk of death from COPD, as well as a 9 per cent higher risk of all-cause mortality, a 27 per cent higher risk of death from ischemic heart disease, and a 23 per cent higher risk of death from stroke. — AFP