The pattern of tobacco use among non-pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending a chest clinic in south-western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pattern of tobacco use among non-pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending the chest clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

METHODS

One hundred and four non-pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending the chest clinic between January 2003 and December 2005 were studied with respect to their tobacco use habits using a questionnaire after their consents had been obtained. Questions were asked about the form(s) of tobacco used, the mode(s) of use, the duration of use and the amount (in case of cigarette smoking), and the duration of stoppage of tobacco use.

RESULTS

There were no current smokers among the patients studied, but 24% of them had used tobacco before presentation, while 84% of these had specifically smoked cigarettes. There were no pipe smokers, no cigar smokers, and no tobacco chewers. The rate of cigarette smoking was highest among the COPD patients (76.5%), and they also have the highest number of pack-years. Smoking rates in the other patients are: lung abscess (50%), empyema thoracis (50%), bronchial asthma (33.3%), and community acquired pneumonia (11.1%). No case of lung cancer was encountered. Two patients with lung abscess had smoked both cigarettes and marijuana in combination while another 2 patients with empyema thoracis had smoked the same combination before presentation. There is no relationship between the duration of stoppage of tobacco use and the subsequent development of non-tuberculous respiratory disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco remains a very significant threat to respiratory health, as this study has demonstrated. The campaign against its use therefore must be intensified.