ArticleEnvironmental health and preventive medicine2026
Association between duration of smoking cessation and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Environmental health and preventive medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundSmoking is associated with depressive symptoms, and smoking cessation has been associated with improved mental health; however, the specific duration and timing of smoking cessation remain unclear. Persuasive evidence is required to support smoking cessation among older adults with long histories of smoking. Consequently, we aimed to examine the associations among duration of smoking cessation, age at smoking cessation, and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults.
methodsThis cross-sectional study included 20,950 older adults from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes. Participants were classified as never, former, or current smokers. Former smokers were further divided into eight groups according to the number of years since smoking cessation. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, with scores ≥6 defined as depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for depressive symptoms according to smoking status.
resultsAmong the 20,142 participants, 6.6%, 32.0%, and 61.4% were current, former, and never smokers, respectively. Overall, 2,389 participants had depressive symptoms. Compared with current smokers, those who had quit smoking for ≥7 years had significantly lower odds of depressive symptoms (AORs = 0.540-0.718). Participants who quit smoking after the age of 65 years also had lower odds of depressive symptoms than current smokers (AOR = 0.765).
conclusionsLong-term smoking cessation, even later in life, was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of promoting smoking cessation and supporting long-term abstinence among middle-aged and older adults.
trial registrationNot applicable.
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