Long-term effectiveness of a community-based lifestyle intervention on smoking behaviors in adults: novel findings from Middle-East
Abstract Introductionwe investigated the long-term effects of a community-based lifestyle intervention on cigarette smoking and intensity, hookah, and passive smoking in a Middle-Eastern population.MethodsWe used data of adult participans of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), (10368 individuals). After excluding those with missings and lost-to-follow-ups, 4915 individials underwent triennial follow-ups for 15.8 years and 1322 received intervention. The smoking status (cigarette, hookah, passive and cigarette intensity) were compared between control and intervention using the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE).ResultsIntervention reduced the odds of cigarette smoking in men by 27% (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.56–0.96; P = 0.03). Estimated mean cigarettes/day was 1.58 lower in men in intervention group. The intervention had short-term positive effects on mens’ hookah smoking at 2nd follow up (coefficient = -0.54, 95% CI= -0.94,-0.14; P = 0.008). The effect was not significant at long-term (P > 0.05). women in intervention group were 38% less likely to smoke cigarette or hookah (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.42–0.91; P = 0.016) and had 33% lower odds of secondhand-smoke exposure (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54–0.84; P = 0.001).ConclusionsA community-based lifestyle intervention have long-term effects in reducing cigarette smoking and intensity in men, along with tobacco and passive smoking in women. It could affect mens’ hookah smoking only in short-term.