The association between smoking and cardiometabolic risk among male adults with disabilities in Taiwan

Individuals with disabilities have health needs similar to the general population. Smoking and metabolic syndrome have emerged as major cardiovascular risks that contribute to systemic inflammation and mortality. However, few studies have focused on the association between smoking and cardiometabolic risks in adult men with disabilities.

This study explored the prevalence of smoking and its association with cardiometabolic risk and associated factors among male adults with disabilities.

This study was part of a nurse-led health-promotion program designed to examine the health needs in health programs for adults with disabilities. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2013–December 2014, in Chiayi County, Taiwan.

Of the total of 964 male participants enrolled in this study, 874 (90.7%) participants had complete data sets. The prevalence of cigarette smoking and metabolic syndrome were 42%, and 33.3%, respectively. More than half (62.7%) had high blood pressure and 43.5% had central obesity. Compared with non-smokers, smokers tended to engage in less frequent regular exercise (p<0.001), eat fewer vegetables and fruit (p<0.05), and drink less water (p<0.05). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that smoking was an independent factor for cardiometabolic risk.

The present findings show a high prevalence of cigarette smoking, unhealthy lifestyle, and cardiometabolic risk among adult men with disabilities. Clinicians and primary healthcare providers should reduce the consequences thereof by initiating innovative health promotion programs.