[Smoking habits in physicians and its sequelae. Preliminary results of a study of 3595 physicians in Slovenia over a 15-year period (1972-1986)].

Results of the inquiry among Slovene physicians regarding their smoking habits and accompanying symptoms are presented. At the same time some estimations are given concerning the differences in degree and specificity of mortality among physicians-smokers and physicians-non-smokers on the base of analysis of physicians died during the period from 1972 to 1986. Spreading of smoking among physicians is still a matter of great concern as there are as much as 30% of male doctors and 20% of female doctors who smoke regularly. Morbidity and mortality are among physicians-smokers significantly higher than among physicians non-smokers. Among the causes of death, cancer of the lung, myocardial infarction, digestive and respiratory diseases are significantly more frequent.