Association between cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus using two different smoking stratifications in 145 040 Korean individuals: Self-reported questionnaire and urine cotinine concentrations

J Diabetes. 2019 Mar;11(3):232-241. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.12837. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Abstract

Background: Although previous studies have assessed the relationship between smoking and diabetes using self-reported questionnaires, interpretations may be limited by an underestimation of the actual smoking population. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking and diabetes using both self-reported questionnaires and urine cotinine concentrations.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study enrolled 145 040 Koreans in Kangbuk Samsung Health and Cohort Studies between 2011 and 2013. Urinary cotinine was measured after a 10-hour smoking-free period. Cotinine-verified current smoking was defined as a urinary cotinine concentrations ≥50 ng/mL.

Results: Overall diabetes prevalence in self-reported (4.5% vs 1.6%) and cotinine-verified (4.4% vs 2.1%) current smokers was higher than in self-reported and cotinine-verified never smokers. Multivariate regression analysis showed that cotinine-verified current smoking (odds ratio [OR] 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.38), self-reported former smoking (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01-1.33) and current smoking (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.17-1.50) were associated with increased diabetes compared with cotinine-verified and self-reported never smoking. Unobserved smoking (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.20, 2.66) also increased the odds for diabetes. There were no significant sex interactions in the analyses.

Conclusions: This study shows that self-reported former and current smoking, cotinine-verified current smoking, and unobserved smoking (i.e. self-reported never smoking with urine cotinine >50 ng/mL) are all associated with increased diabetes prevalence. These findings suggest that cotinine could provide additional information when assessing cardiometabolic risks, such as diabetes.

Keywords: cotinine; diabetes mellitus; smoking; 可替宁; 吸烟; 糖尿病.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cigarette Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Cotinine / urine*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / urine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Report*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Cotinine