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Background: The association between pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and tobacco smoke has been verified by most studies on the subject; figures from different countries for the prevalence of smoking among PTB patients vary., Objective: To assess the prevalence of and factors associated with smoking among TB patients in Iran., Design: In this cross-sectional study, subjects were included on a first-come, first-served basis from among newly diagnosed PTB patients using a multistage cluster sampling method during 2012-2014. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews and a questionnaire was used to gather information on smoking habits., Results: Of 1127 newly diagnosed PTB patients included in the study (mean age 50.0 ± 19.8 years), 228 (20.2%) were daily smokers, 20 (1.8%) were occasional smokers and 93 (8.9%) had quit before diagnosis. Simultaneous drug use (P < 0.001, OR 75.21), increasing age (P = 0.001), being single (P < 0.001, OR 16.95), being an Iranian national (P < 0.001, OR 6.26) and living in a rural area (P < 0.001, OR 5.85) were found to be independent risk factors for smoking in study patients., Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking among PTB patients in Iran is relatively high. It is therefore necessary to include smoking cessation interventions in the National TB Programme.

Background: The harmful effects of smoking on the postsurgical wound healing disturbances have been widely investigated across various surgical procedures. These effects after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have been less explored. We aimed to investigate the association of smoking and the wound healing problems in post-CABG patients., Materials and Methods: We compared the incidence of wound complications in 405 smokers and 405 nonsmokers who underwent an elective CABG surgery. The incidence of leg and sternal wound complications was evaluated during the first 7 d as well as at a 6-wk postoperative visit., Results: One hundred fifty-six leg wound complications were noted in 132 patients (16.3%). The overall rate of leg wound healing disturbances was significantly higher in smokers than those in nonsmokers (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.109-4.019; P = 0.010). The incidence rates of leg wound edge necrosis and dehiscence were significantly higher in smokers compared with those in nonsmokers (3.7% versus 0.7%, P = 0.004 and 6.6% versus 0.7%, P < 0.0001, respectively). We found no significant differences between the incidence of postoperative leg wound infection, hematoma, wound edema, and seroma in active smokers and those who never smoked. Thirty-seven postsurgical sternal wound complications (4.6%) were developed in 33 patients (4.1%). The overall rate of sternal wound healing disturbances was similar between smokers and nonsmokers. There was a trend between the sternal wound dehiscence and smoking (P = 0.03); however, the other sternal wound complications were not associated with smoking., Conclusions: Smoking may contribute to the disturbances of wound healing, especially wound dehiscence, in post-CABG patients., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to quantify the implementation of MPOWER tobacco control policies among Eastern Mediterranean Region countries. Information was obtained from the 2011 WHO MPOWER report. A checklist was designed and its scoring was agreed by Iranian and international tobacco control specialists. Seven questions were scored from 0-4 and 3 from 0-3. The 22 countries were ranked by their total score on a scale of 0 to 37. The highest scores were achieved by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Egypt and Jordan 29, 28 and 26 respectively. Twelve of the countries (55%) scored more than half of the possible score (19). The lowest and highest scores for all countries summed were on sections related to banning smoking in public places (18) and tobacco advertising bans (66) respectively. Compliance with smoke-free policies was especially low. MPOWER programmes are accepted in the Region but there is considerable room for improvement. Input from countries based on their successes and challenges is needed to strengthen the programmes.

This cross-sectional survey aimed to provide an overview of tobacco control strategies in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A questionnaire to collate data on implementation of 6 major policies was developed based on the previously published Tobacco Control Scale and using MPOWER measures of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative and the Tobacco Atlas. Only 3 of the 21 countries scored higher than 50 out of 100: Islamic Republic of Iran (61), Jordan (55) and Egypt (51) More than half of countries scored less than 26. Highest scores were achieved by Afghanistan in cigarette pricing, Oman in smoking bans in public places, Islamic Republic of Iran in budgeting, prohibition of advertisements and health warnings against smoking and Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia and Kuwait in tobacco cessation programmes. The low mean total score in EMR countries (29.7) compared with European countries (47.2) highlights the need for better future planning and policy-making for tobacco control in the Region.

Background: Smoking cessation programmes were first introduced in Iran in 1997. To date a number of types of nicotine replacement therapy have been prescribed., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of varenicline for tobacco cessation., Methods: This was a randomised parallel clinical study conducted in 2010. Participants were smokers willing to quit who were visiting a smoking cessation clinic for the first time and were randomly divided into three groups: all three groups received brief counselling on cessation, Group 2 received nicotine patches and Group 3 was prescribed varenicline for 8 weeks., Results: There were 272 participants in the study: 91 in Group 1, 92 in Group 2 and 89 in Group 3. At the end of the first month, 128 of the 272 subjects (47.1%) succeeded in quitting: 17 (18.7%) in Group 1, 60 (65.2%) in Group 2 and 51 (57.3%) in Group 3 (P = 0.000). At follow-up after 12 months, 58 subjects (21.3%) remained smoke-free, of whom 6 (6.6%) were in Group 1, 23 (25%) in Group 2 and 29 (32.6%) in Group 3 (P = 0.000)., Conclusion: In the study, varenicline treatment was slightly more effective than but not significantly different from nicotine replacement therapy.

The prevalence of smoking was studied using a questionnaire. Pulmonary function tests and respiratory symptoms were evaluated in 176 smokers. The total studied population with family and co-workers were 13289. The number of smokers among studied population was 11.7%. The rate of smoking among male subjects was 17.2% and in female 2.5%. All values of PFTs in smokers were significantly lower (p<0.001) and respiratory symptoms higher than in non smokers (p<0.05 for cough and p<0.001 for wheeze and tightness). There were significant negative correlations between smoking duration and rate with values of PFT (p<0.05-p<0.001). In this study the prevalence of smoking in population of Mashhad city was shown. The prevalence of smoking was higher among male than females. Smoking leads to increased respiratory symptoms and reduction of PFTs values., (Copyright © 2010 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

Background: Iran is one of two main target markets for tobacco smuggling in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. The Iranian government has a local tobacco monopoly but there is high demand for international brands. Informal reports show about 20% of cigarette consumption is smuggled brands. This pack survey study is the first in Iran to gather validated information on use of smuggled cigarettes., Methods: A randomized cross-sectional household survey in Tehran in 2008-2009 of 1540 smokers aged 16-90 (83% men) was performed, including interviewer checking of cigarette packs., Results: In all, 20.9% of cigarettes and 6.7% of domestic branded cigarettes were smuggled. A total of 60.1% of smokers preferred foreign cigarettes. There was no significant difference between consumption of illegal cigarettes by sex. (Fisher exact test p=0.61) Use of smuggled cigarettes was higher among younger smokers (p=0.01)., Conclusions: Use of illegal cigarettes is high. Tobacco control laws outlawing their sale are not being enforced.

This study in 2003 determined the prevalence of smoking and its associated factors among high-school students in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. Out of 1095 students aged 14-18 years, 29% (31% boys, 26% girls) were occasional and 5% (6% boys and 2% girls) daily smokers. Among occasional smokers, 21% had family members who also smoked, whereas for students who had never tried smoking, no family members smoked. Of 316 occasional smokers, 12% lived with a single parent compared with only 5% of never smokers. Regression analysis showed that significant risk factors for daily smoking were: having a brother or sister who smokes (OR = 8.58) and having more than 1 family member who smokes (OR = 6.33).