Gender Differences in Cigarette Smokers' Exhaled Carbon Monoxide and Nicotine Dependency Levels.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether smoking behaviour, exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) levels, and addiction status differ between male and female smokers. The data of the applicants to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic were retrospectively examined to complete the study. Age, gender, carbon monoxide level, nicotine dependence level, and number of packs-year smoked were all taken from the records of patients who applied to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic. Males made up 53.7% of the 242 participants. Even though men smoked more cigarettes, there was no gender difference in the median number of packs smoked annually (p = 0.089). The median dependence score did not differ by gender (p = 0.259), even though men had higher ratings for dependence. Men were found to have higher CO ppm values, although gender-specific CO ppm medians were not different (p = 0.219). No gender-based variations in CO exposure were found. This shows that gender-based interventions are unnecessary to promote population health and raise smokers' knowledge of CO exposure. Key Words: Smokers, Carbon monoxide, Nicotine dependence.