Gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität von Tabakraucher:innen in der hausärztlichen Versorgung: Zusammenhängemit soziodemografischenMerkmalen, Rauchverhalten und Rauchstopp.

Background: Tobacco smoking is associated with a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Tobacco cessation can significantly improve HRQOL. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between sociodemographic characteristics, smoking behaviour, smoking cessation and HRQOL among tobacco smokers in the general practice setting in Germany. Methods: In our observational study we used data from a pragmatic, clusterrandomized controlled intervention study with three follow-ups (in week 4, 12 and 26), conducted between 06/2017 and 02/2020 in 52 general practices in the German federal state North Rhine--Westphalia. We analysed data of daily or occasional tobacco smoking patients aged ≥18 years. During a face-to-face oral baseline interview, age, sex, education, level of tobacco consumption, urges to smoke and HRQOL were recorded. A 26-week written follow-up survey recorded any smoking cessation attempts in the preceding 6 months and also once again HRQOL. Associations were analysed using multivariable linear regressions. Results: A total of 1793 patients participated in the baseline interview, and 518 in the follow-up survey. Age, low compared with high educational level, and the strength of urges to smoke showed a negative association with HRQOL, whereas male gender was positively related to HRQOL. An association between smoking cessation and a change in HRQOL could not be demonstrated in the present work. Conclusions: In addition to sociodemographic characteristics, the strength of urges to smoke is also closely associated with HRQOL. This should be considered in preventive and treatment measures for smoking patients in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]