LAUSR

Tobacco use was responsible, in Portugal, in 2015, for the death of 11,098 individuals. Knowledge of the extent and characteristics of smoking is essential for planning interventions aimed at its control. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data on socio-demographic characteristics and smoking habits of the Portugal resident population aged 15 and over, collected by the 5th National Health Survey, applied in 2014 to a representative sample of 22,538 individuals. The average number of cigarettes smoked per day was 16 cigarettes in men and 12 cigarettes in women; the highest average were found in men of the Azores (18 cigarettes) and in men in the 45-54 years old age group (17 cigarettes). The mean of the starting age of daily smoking was 17 years in men and 19 years in women; the lowest mean was found in men of the Azores (16 years). The mean of the duration of consumption in former smokers was 22 years in men and 16 years in women; the highest mean was found in men of the Azores (26 years). Most ex-smokers had quit smoking without any support (men: 91%, women: 94%) and the highest estimated percentages were found in women in the ≥ 75 years old age group (99,4%) and in women of the Northern Region (97,4%). The prevalence of electronic cigarette users was 1.3% in men and 0.8% in women; the highest percentages were found in men in the 25-34 years old age group (2.5%) and in men of the Northern Region (2,0%). The results point to groups of individuals in which a (selective) preventive intervention of tobacco consumption is a priority, in addition to universal interventions.