Prevalence, pattern, and cessation of tobacco consumption among older adults in India

There has been a comparative decline in tobacco consumption; however, India still has the highest number of tobacco consumers in terms of absolute numbers.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence, pattern, and cessation of tobacco consumption among older adults in India.

Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) wave-I. Cross-tabulation and logistic regression analysis were used. Smokeless and smoked tobacco were the main response variables.

The consumption of smokeless tobacco was higher among male older adults than in female older adults; however, a higher percentage of female older adults consumed smoked tobacco than their male counterparts. A higher percentage of urban older adults than rural older adults (45.35% vs. 41.67%) consumed smokeless tobacco; however, the prevalence of smoked tobacco consumption was higher among older adults in rural areas than their urban counterparts (48.46% vs. 46.81%). The odds of ever used tobacco (OR = 0.23, C.I. = 0.18–0.30) and smokeless tobacco (OR = 0.69, C.I. = 0.47–1.00) were lower among higher educated older adults than uneducated older adults.

There is a need to disseminate information about the ill effects of tobacco consumption among older men and women.