The Cigarette Smoking of Community-dwelling Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: To find out the actual state of smoking, which is one of major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases after spinal cord injury (SCI), of community-dwelling persons with SCI, and the differences of smoking behaviors from general populations. Method: The persons with SCI living in community drew up a self-report paper-based questionnaires which were made up based on The third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey questionnaires for data comparisons. Demographic data, smoking duration, amount, cessation attempt and plan were asked. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 459 persons with SCI and 332 persons from twenties to sixties were finally analysed. In men, the lifetime smoking rates of SCI subjects in their forties and fifties were lower and the current smoking rate of tetraplegic subjects in their forties and fifties were lower than those of general population. But the amount of smoking and attempt to stop smoking were of no differences. In women, there were no significant differences in all parameters. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in smoking rates and amounts between SCI patients and general populations, but smokers with SCI showed weak intention to cease smoking.