SMOKING AND MORBIDITY IN A COLLEGE-AGE GROUP

Abstract

Retrospective evaluations were made on 1,623 Harvard graduates and 404 Radcliffe graduates, based on their visits to the clinic at the University Health Services. Visits were counted and subcategorized for each student. Smoking information was gathered on these students during their freshman and senior years. With a knowledge of smoking habits, students who smoked were compared with students who did not smoke with regard to visits to the clinic. The frequency and severity in the total disease category were greater in the smoker than the nonsmoker. The results were particularly impressive when respiratory disease was considered. There was a significant positive correlation between years smoked and lifetime packs smoked and respiratory disease. Smokers had a significant increase in traumatic disease in Harvard and genitourinary disease in Radcliffe compared with nonsmokers. Although it is not possible to state categorically direct causation between smoking and increased respiratory disease, substantial evidence exists for this relationship. The increase in traumatic and genitourinary disease is complicated by personality and social factors.