Prevalence of Disability Up Over Twofold for Current Smokers
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, May 30, 2025 -- The prevalence of disability among adults who currently smoke cigarettes is more than twofold higher than that seen for never smokers, according to a study published online May 29 in Tobacco Control.
Jeanette Novakovich, Ph.D., from the Office on Smoking and Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the prevalence of disability and severity of functional difficulties among adults who smoke cigarettes using data from the 2019 to 2023 National Health Interview Survey.
The researchers found that compared with those who never smoked, estimates for any disability were significantly higher for adults who currently and formerly smoked. The prevalence of reporting a disability was higher among adults who currently smoked compared with those who never smoked and with those who formerly smoked (14.1 percent versus 6.8 and 12.6 percent, respectively). Compared with those who never smoked, adults who currently smoke had prevalence of vision, hearing, mobility, and cognitive disability that was 2.0 to 2.4 times higher. Among adults who currently smoke, disability prevalence was 16.5 and 12.1 percent among women and men, respectively. Prevalence ranged from 21.6 to 8.7 percent for those aged 65+ and 25 to 44 years, respectively. For race and ethnicity, prevalence varied from 19.0 to 11.1 percent among non-Hispanic Others and Hispanics, respectively.
"Our pooled analysis revealed that of the estimated 25 million adults who currently smoke, about 40 percent experienced at least some level of functional difficulty," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Vaping Tied to Increased Risk for Smoking, Other Harms in Young People
FRIDAY, Aug. 22, 2025 -- There are consistent associations between vaping and negative outcomes in young people, including subsequent smoking, substance use, and poor physical and...
Weather Disasters Impacted Counties With More Than 60 Percent of Drug Production Facilities
FRIDAY, Aug. 22, 2025 -- More than 60 percent of drug production facilities were located in U.S. counties with at least one disaster declaration from 2019 to 2024, according to a...
Sensitive Personalities Tied to More Mental Health Conditions
FRIDAY, Aug. 22, 2025 -- People with sensitive personalities are more prone to common mental health problems such as agoraphobia and avoidant personality disorder, according to a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.