Background: Smoking is one of the main causes of death among adults worldwide.
Aim: To characterize smoking among Chilean older people, according to sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Material and methods: Secondary analysis of data obtained during the National Health Survey 2009-10, selecting individuals aged 60 years and older. Expansion factors were used due to the complex design of the sample. Prevalence and characteristics of smoking were calculated, according to age, sex, educational level, marital status, healthcare insurance system and comorbidities.
Results: Nineteen percent of older people were actual smokers, and 85% of these smokers were aged between 60 and 69 years. Forty-five percent were highly dependent to nicotine and 73% reported their intention to quit smoking.
Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of tobacco smoking among Chilean older people. Prevention measures are needed.