CohortHumann = 4,6332012
Smoking reduction at midlife and lifetime mortality risk in men: a prospective cohort study.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at whether cutting back on cigarettes later in life affects how long men live. It tracked 4,633 Israeli working men who smoked in 1963, checked their smoking habits again in 1965, and followed them for mortality through 2005. Men who reduced their smoking had a 15% lower risk of dying compared to those who kept smoking the same amount, and those who quit had a 22% lower risk. The survival benefit was strongest for heavy smokers and for deaths from heart disease.
Key findings
- Men who reduced smoking had a 15% lower risk of dying compared to those who maintained their smoking level.
- Men who quit smoking had a 22% lower risk of dying compared to those who maintained their smoking level.
- The survival benefit was strongest for heavy smokers and for deaths from heart disease.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Cohort studies follow a group over time to see how exposures relate to outcomes, but they cannot prove cause and effect because other factors may differ between groups.
- Population
- Israeli working men who smoked at baseline, mean age 51 years.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Takeaway
- This study found that cutting back on smoking, even without quitting entirely, was linked to a longer life, especially for heavy smokers. If you smoke heavily and cannot quit right away, it may be worth reducing your cigarette intake as a first step.