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Young healthy people who smoke had substantially more lost
work days than their non-smoking colleagues, finds research
in Tobacco Control. Men smokers had more lost work days than
women smokers, the study showed.
Almost 88,000 men and women on active duty in the US Army
were monitored for over two years. The average age of those
assessed was 28*, and the sample included men and women of
diverse ethnicity, race, and army occupation.
The smokers had more lost work days and were admitted to
hospital more frequently than their non-smoking colleagues.
Among the men, smoking increased the risk of being admitted
to hospital for causes other than injury by almost a third;
in women the equivalent increase in risk was 25 per cent.
The research showed that former smokers also had higher
admission rates than non-smokers. Current smoking could be
directly implicated in 7.5 per cent of hospital admissions in
men and 5 per cent of those in women. . .
The authors point out that most employment research on
smokers has focused on older populations, but that this study
shows the adverse effects among young smokers, with the
consequent cost implications for employers. "It is
remarkable that a single risk factor could account for such a
large proportion of hospitalisations and lost workdays,
particularly over such a short period of observation," they
conclude.
Source: EurekAlert (Dec 4, 2000)
http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/cfah-yhs120100.html
SMOKING COSTS TIME AND MONEY
Young smokers take more time off work - because of their
habit - than their non-smoking peers. . .
The American study of young smokers in the US Army found
male smokers are the most likely to be off work, and to have
to be hospitalised. Women smokers are also more at risk than their non smoking
counterparts. . .
The researchers, led by Major Anthony Robbins, of Brooks Air
Force Base in Texas, monitored 88,000 men and women in the US
Army, with an average age of 28, over two years.
Male smokers were more 60% likely to take time off work, and
they were 7% more likely to take time off because of
injuries. Female smokers were 15% more likely to take time off, and
54% more likely to have to take time off because of injury. . .
Both pieces of research are published in Tobacco Control
journal.
Source: BBC Online (Dec 5, 2000)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1054000/1054286.stm
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