Are the Predictors of Hookah Smoking Different from Those of Cigarette Smoking? Report of a Population-based Study in Shiraz, Iran, 2010

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and effect of lifestyle factors on cigarette and hookah use among adult re sidents of Shiraz, Iran.

Methods: In 2010, 1,000 participants were recruited in a multistage, random sampling cross-sectional population-based survey.

Results: Response rate was 98%. Prevalence of cigarette smoking was 9.7%. Among cigarette users, 12.6% reported smoking <1 year; 13.4% smoked 1-2 years and 73.9% smoked>2 years. Almost half of those surveyed (48.9%) smoked <10 cigarettes per day (cpd); 28.4% smoked 10-15 cpd; 14.8% smoked 16-19 cpd, and 8%>20 cpd. Almost a quarter (20.4%) of the cigarette smokers tried to quit in the past year. Being male, married, aged 37-54, having higher perceived levels of stress, a non-manual occupation, and sedentary lifestyle were positively associated with cigarette smoking. Manual labor occupations, housewife/jobless status, and going frequently to restaurants were positive predictors of hookah smoking.

Conclusions: Compared to cigarettes, hookah smoking was more prevalent among Iranian adults. Prevalence of hookah smoking in women approximated that of men, whereas cigarette use was 31 times more common in men. Cigarette and hookah smoking were associated with less healthy lifestyle habits in both men and women.

Key words: Hookah, Iran, Shiraz, tobacco