Evaluation On The Association Between Smoking Status And Cognitive Function In Anqing Rural Middle Aged Male Population

Objective To investigate the association between smoking status and cognitive function as well as the influencing factors in Anqing rural male participants.Methods Study participants were from an epidemiological survey conducted from August 6 to 24 th, 2013 in Anqing rural area. MMSE scores were collected by using Mini-Mental State Examination scale; Depression status were evaluated by using Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Smoking status and other relevant information were ascertained by trained research staff according to standard operating procedures. The relationship between smoking and MMSE scores was evaluated using multiple linear regression models with adjustment for age, education levels, body mass index, living habits, history of stroke and depression status.Results In this study, 615 male participants were included in the final analysis with a average age of(64.8±8.3). Among them, 167(27.2%) were non-smokers. The smokers were likely to be with low BMI and living standard and more likely to be a drinker. Compared with non-smokers [MMSE scores: 24.4(mean) ±5.0(sd)], smokers(current or ever smoking, 24.8±4.8) had significantly higher MMSE scores(β=0.72, se=0.35, P=0.038) after the multivariate-adjustment of age, education levels and blood pressure and so on. Furthermore, the higher MMSE scores in both ever [22.3±4.6 versus 20.8±4.8(non-smokers), β=1.62, se=0.83, P=0.050] and current smokers [21.9±4.8 versus(non-smokers), β=1.36, se=0.68, P=0.046] were mainly observed in illiterate participants when we stratified the education levels. What’s more, we found an interaction between smoking and education levels to MMSE scores. When we stratified the blood pressure, we found the higher MMSE scores in smokers[24.9±4.6 versus(non-smokers, 24.0±5.1), β= 0.83, SE = 0.42, P = 0.048] were mainly observed in normal BP participants. We also found the higher MMSE scores in smokers[22.7±5.4 versus(non-smokers, 21.8 ±6.3), β= 2.33, SE = 1.02, P = 0.025] in depressionparticipants. Age and BMI did not significantly modify the association between smoking status and MMSE scores.Conclusion Cigarette smoking is significantly associated with increased cognitive function, particularly in illiterate population, normal blood population and drepression population.