CIGARETTE SMOKING AND ACUTE NON-INFLUENZAL RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN MILITARY CADETS

Abstract

Finklea, J. F. (ERB, DHER, APCO, 411 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, N.C 27701), V. Hasselblad, S. H. Sandifer, D. I. Hammer and G. R. Lowrimore. Cigarette smoking and acute non-influenzal respiratory disease in military cadets. Amer J Epidem 93: 457–462, 1971.—Acute upper and lower non-influenzal respiratory illness, but not enteric or traumatic illness, was significantly more frequent among cigarette smokers than nonsmokers. Outpatient and hospital acute upper respiratory incidence rates for heavy smokers (> one pack per day) were 1.3 times those of nonsmokers. Acute lower respiratory disease rates for heavy smokers were twice those of nonsmokers. In each case, both lighter cigarette smokers, and cigar, pipe and ex-smokers exhibited intermediate rates. An index of severity, the ratio of hospital incidence rates to outpatient rates, was similar for smokers and nonsmokers in each illness category. Cigarette smokers comprised 34.5% of the 1,848 volunteers in this study.