Effects of cigarette smoking on rhinologic diseases: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011

BackgroundSeveral studies have shown a relationship between cigarette smoking and general diseases of the nose in a large Asian population. The current study was conducted to better understand the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on rhinologic diseases in Koreans. MethodsData were obtained from the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional survey of the noninstitutionalized population in Korea. Of the 37,753 people surveyed, 11,589 adult participants had completed questionnaires on rhinologic symptoms and smoking behaviors, had undergone nasal endoscopy, and had provided urine collection were enrolled. Rhinologic diseases investigated in this study included subjective olfactory dysfunction, rhinitis symptoms, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and nasal septal deviation with obstructive symptoms. The relationship between disease and cigarette smoking was evaluated using multivariate regression analyses. ResultsIn South Korea, the weighted prevalence of subjective olfactory dysfunction, rhinitis symptoms, CRS, and nasal septal deviation with obstructive symptoms was 4.6%, 27.2%, 6.2%, and 4.0%, respectively. The only disease significantly associated with active smoking was CRS in participants 40 years of age and older after adjusting for age, sex, residency, house income, education, and occupation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.427, 95% confidence interval = 1.050 to 1.938). For each year of active smoking, CRS prevalence increased by 1.5%. None of the rhinologic diseases examined were associated with passive smoking. ConclusionOur study showed that CRS seems to be associated with active smoking in older participants. Considering the relatively high prevalence of CRS in Korea, further longitudinal researches for their association and prevention are required.