Contact: Megan KellerLippincott Williams & Wilkins(215) 521-8374[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Smoking Linked to More Severe Spinal Symptoms
PHILADELPHIA, PA February 4, 2002 - Among patients with spinal problems, those who smoke have more severe symptoms and poorer physical and mental health--including a higher rate of depression--reports a study in the February issue of the journal Spine.
Led by Molly T. Vogt, Ph.D., of University of Pittsburgh, the researchers analyzed the impact of smoking on spinal symptoms and general health in a group of nearly 25,500 patients treated for spinal problems. The patients were identified through the National Spine Network database, which includes information on spinal patients seen at 23 U.S. health care centers.
About 17 percent of the patients were smokers. Spinal symptoms were rated severe in 50 percent of patients who smoked, compared with 37 percent of nonsmokers. The smokers were also significantly younger: 44 vs 49 years.
Smokers had lower scores on a standard health status questionnaire, including scores for both physical and mental health. Symptoms of depression were found in 54 percent of patients who smoked, compared with 37 percent of nonsmokers.
In a subgroup of patients who underwent spinal surgery, nonsmokers had progressive improvement in measures of physical and mental health. In contrast, the smokers had little improvement in health status after surgery.
Several past studies have identified smoking as a risk factor for back pain, although more recent reports have questioned whether smoking is actually a causative factor. In general, smokers and patients with depression have poorer health outcomes and increased recovery times.
Spinal patients who smoke have more severe spinal symptoms, a higher rate of depression, and a poorer response to surgery, Dr. Vogt and colleagues conclude. They recommend screening to identify the relatively high number of patients with spinal problems who have depression as well. They also suggest that "Clinicians may need to lower their expectations for a 'good' outcome when treating patients who smoke."
Recognized internationally as the leading journal in its field, Spine reports on today's most important diagnostic and therapeutic advances regarding spinal pain, deformity, and disability. Distinguished by its broad scope of coverage and emphasis on patient care, this popular biweekly has earned must-read status in the orthopaedic community. For more information, call 1-800-638-3030 or visit www.spinejournal.com.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (www.LWW.com) is a global publisher of medical, nursing and allied health information resources in book, journal, newsletter, looseleaf, and electronic media formats.
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