Asthma Diagnosis Linked with Greater Risk of Daily Smoking and Nicotine Dependence

Asthma may be significantly associated with a higher risk of daily smoking and nicotine dependence, according to new research. The new study found that people who were diagnosed with asthma were 1.26 times more likely to have been a smoker and twice as likely to have been nicotine dependent at some point in their lives, compared to people without asthma.

 The study, published in the online preview issue of the Journal of Health Psychology, analyzed data from the National Comorbity Survey-Replication (NCS-R), a large epidemiological survey of American adults. The researchers found that about half of the smokers with asthma said they began smoking before they were diagnosed with asthma.

Based on the study findings, the researchers recommend paying greater clinical attention to addressing tobacco use and dependence in people with asthma.