Social Class No Shield Against Smoking's Toxicity

The study, one of the pioneering efforts in examining the long-term effects of smoking on older people, was performed by Laurence Gruer and David Gordon from Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) of Scotland, and by Graham Watt and Carole Hart of Glasgow University.
    
Upper-income professionals who smoke, the study showed, have a far lower survival rate than non-smoking, poorly paid workers of the same gender. Thus, the paper concludes that, “in essence, neither affluence nor being female offers a defense against the toxicity of tobacco.”

At the 28-year point, 56 percent of female never-smokers and 36 percent of male never-smokers in the lowest social classes were still alive compared with only 41 percent of female smokers and 24 percent of male smokers in the top two social class groups.
In good news for those who once smoked but quit, the findings showed that ex-smokers had premature-death rates far closer to never-smokers than to smokers.

“This study reinforces current policies in the United Kingdom and other countries aimed at helping smokers stop smoking,” said Gruer, who is also director of public health science at NHS Scotland. “Accessible and effective smoking cessation advice and services, as well as strong action to discourage young people from starting to smoke, are key to reducing health inequalities. With over 23 percent of adults in the UK still smoking, rising to well over 40 percent in some places and groups, it’s crucial we continue to make smoking cessation a top priority.”

Remarking on the findings, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, “This research reinforces the message that stopping smoking – or never taking up the habit – is the biggest single thing anyone can do to improve their health.”