Prevalência de sintomas respiratórios e tabagismo em escolares de Santa Cruz do Sul - RS

Resumen

Introduction: Smoking is a major public health problem and also responsible for the development of various acute and chronic diseases. Objective: Estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and smoking habits among high school teenagers in Santa Cruz do Sul - RS. Methods: A cross sectional exploratory study with school teenagers who were randomized and responded to questionnaires of respiratory symptoms (Modified from the British Medical Research Council and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey), an investigation smoking and Tolerance Questionnaire of Fagestrom. Results: 350 adolescents from 14 to 21 years with average age of 16.7 ± 5.6 years (56.6% female and 43.4% male) were evaluated. The prevalence of smoking was 10.6% with no difference between sexes (p = 0.880). In smokers adolescents, the respiratory symptoms prevalence was higher than in nonsmokers on issues addressed in the cough (83.8%), sputum (54.1%), wheezing (45.9%) (p = 0.000) and shortness of breath 43.2% (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Considering the age group studied, there was high smoking prevalence as well as increased respiratory symptoms occurrence in adolescents who engage in smoking.