Changes in cigarette consumption patterns among Brazilian smokers between 1989 and 2008

Abstract

The assessment of temporal differences in ciga rette consumption may help in understanding whether a smoking population is becoming more resistant to quitting over time. We calculated ab solute differences in average cigarette consump tion, stratified by birth cohort and age group. Data were obtained from random samples from two Brazilian national household surveys (1989, N = 12,782; 2008, N = 6,675). A linear regression model was used to adjust estimates by gender, educational level, and place of residence. Birth cohort analysis found that average daily cigarette consumption increased for individuals born af ter 1964 and decreased for those born before 1955 (adjusted p-values < 0.001). Age-specific analy sis found that the remaining smoking popula tion aged 64 years-old or less decreased cigarette consumption between 1989 and 2008 (adjusted p-values < 0.001). Brazil's anti-tobacco policy changes and rapid economic growth may be principally related to temporal changes in ciga rette consumption for most age groups, rather than to a change in the relationship between age and cigarette consumption.