Cigarette smoking among gay and bisexual men

Am J Public Health. 1999 Dec;89(12):1875-8. doi: 10.2105/ajph.89.12.1875.

Abstract

Objectives: This study measured the prevalence of cigarette smoking among gay men and identified associations with smoking.

Methods: Household-based (n = 696) and bar-based (n = 1897) sampling procedures yielded 2593 gay male participants from Portland, Ore, and Tucson, Ariz, in the spring of 1992.

Results: Forty-eight percent of the combined sample reported current smoking, a rate far above prevalence estimates for men in Arizona (z = 14.11, P < .001) or Oregon (z = 24.24, P < .001). Significant associations with smoking included heavy drinking, frequent gay bar attendance, greater AIDS-related losses, HIV seropositivity, lower health rating than members of same age cohort, lower educational attainment, and lower income.

Conclusions: Rates of cigarette smoking are very high among gay men. Tobacco prevention and cessation campaigns should be designed to reach the gay male community.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arizona / epidemiology
  • Bisexuality / statistics & numerical data*
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Oregon / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology*