Numerous physiological changes in lung function occur with aging. These include a decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1), an increase in residual volume, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, diminished respiratory muscle strength and less effective ciliary muscle strength. These changes place the older person at increased risk of mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD occurs in approximately 15% of older persons and is the third most common cause of death. Older persons with COPD have a number of unique complications including osteoporosis and hip fracture, sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, male hypogonadism, malnutrition, and decreased awareness of hypoxia. Over one-half of older persons with COPD are frail, and the presence of frailty increases mortality substan...

Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the idea that substituting tobacco cigarettes with e-cigarettes may substantially reduce exposure to selected tobacco-specific toxicants. E-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among smokers unwilling to quit, warrants further study. (To view this abstract in Polish and German, please see the supplementary files online.) (Source: Tobacco Control)

The benefits of preventing smoking onset are well known. Existing reviews clearly demonstrate that increasing the prices of tobacco products reduces smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption. However, only a small number of studies included in existing reviews have examined smoking onset (the transition between never smoking and smoking). Moreover, existing reviews provide limited quality assessment of the data and methods utilised. This paper systematically searches for and critically reviews studies that examine the impact of tobacco prices or taxes on smoking onset. Most studies reviewed have important methodological limitations, including recall bias; a general failure to apply diagnostic tests, to discuss the choice of estimators and distributional assumptions and to conduct sensit...

Conclusions Our data suggest that the majority of the PAHs, nicotine, cotinine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines that are released during smoking in homes and public places deposit on room surfaces. These data give an estimate of the potential for accumulation of carcinogens in thirdhand cigarette smoke. Exposure to PAHs and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, through dermal absorption and inhalation of contaminated dust, may contribute to smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality. (Source: Tobacco Control)