Objective: To investigate the relationship between smoking and the functional status of young adults.
Design: A 4-year prospective questionnaire study.
Setting: The municipality of Ullensaker, Norway.
Subjects: 1084 subjects, 20-22 years or 30-32 years of age (the two youngest age-cohorts in a larger population study), completed a mailed questionnaire in 1990. A second questionnaire, mailed to the respondents in 1994, was completed by 753 (69.5%) individuals.
Main outcome measures: Self-evaluated functional status as measured with the COOP/Wonca Charts.
Results: In 1994, respondents who were daily smokers in 1990 reported lower physical fitness, poorer overall health, and more pain, emotional problems, limitations of social activities, and problems in performing daily tasks than nonsmokers. Smoking in 1990 was associated with moderate or low physical fitness (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.19-4.11) and moderate or severe pain (OR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.32-3.94) in 1994, after adjustment for age, gender, civil state, workplace characteristics, physical exercise, and emotional symptoms.
Conclusion: Even young adults report a lower functional status if they smoke. If this reflects a causal relationship it could be an important argument when trying to persuade young people to avoid smoking.