The 21st century hazards of smoking and benefits of stopping: a prospective study of one million women in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Women born around 1940 in countries such as the UK and USA were the first generation in which many smoked substantial numbers of cigarettes throughout adult life. Hence, only in the 21st century can we observe directly the full effects of prolonged smoking, and of prolonged cessation, on mortality among women in the UK.

Methods

For this prospective study, 1·3 million UK women were recruited in 1996-2001 and resurveyed postally about 3 and 8 years later. All were followed to Jan 1, 2011, through national mortality records (mean 12 woman-years, SD 2). Participants were asked at entry whether they were current or ex-smokers, and how many cigarettes they currently smoked. Those who were ex-smokers at both entry and the 3-year resurvey and had stopped before the age of

SUBMITTER: Pirie K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3547248 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature