Association Between Second-Hand Smoke Exposure and Respiratory Symptoms Among the General Population of Non-smoker Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mohammed Madkhali; Safa Shariff; Raghad Albalawi; Abdulrahman Aqeel; Abdulqader Alshahrani; Raghd Alabdullah; Raghad Alasmari; Wajd Aljohani

doi:10.7759/cureus.49243

Association Between Second-Hand Smoke Exposure and Respiratory Symptoms Among the General Population of Non-smoker Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Cureus. 2023 Nov 22;15(11):e49243. doi: 10.7759/cureus.49243. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Mohammed Madkhali¹, Safa Shariff², Raghad Albalawi², Abdulrahman Aqeel¹, Abdulqader Alshahrani³, Raghd Alabdullah⁴, Raghad Alasmari⁵, Wajd Aljohani⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, SAU.
² Faculty of Medicine, Al-Rayan Colleges, Madinah, SAU.
³ Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital South Region, Khamis Mushait, SAU.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, SAU.
⁶ Internal Medicine, King Abdullah Medical Complex - Jeddah, Jeddah, SAU.

Abstract

Background: Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with respiratory symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. However, data on this association in Saudi Arabia is limited.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of SHS exposure and its association with respiratory symptoms among non-smoker adults in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Data collection was carried out over the course of two months by distributing an online questionnaire among adults living in Saudi Arabia. The survey consisted of questions assessing sociodemographic factors, SHS exposure, and the presence of respiratory symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Data was considered significant if p<0.05.

Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1360 participants. Most were females (n=845, 72.1%) and individuals aged 18 to 30 years (n=838, 71.5%). From the analyzed records, 67.3% (n=789) reported SHS exposure. Among them, 40.3% (n=472) reported SHS exposure from household sources, 32.6% (n=382) from work colleagues, and 30.5% (n=357) from friends. The majority (n=306, 76.9%) of those exposed at home reported daily SHS exposure. The main source of home exposure was male family members, particularly the father (n=201, 42.6%). The majority (n=985, 84.0%) of participants reported not having any kind of mold or damage at their place of residence. Individuals with SHS exposure were more likely to report asthma (p=0.043), chest whistling or wheezing (p=0.021), chronic cough (p<0.001), productive cough (p<0.001), and nasal symptoms without a cold (p<0.001). These individuals also demonstrated a higher average symptom score than those not exposed to SHS. Conclusion: The study reveals that a significant percentage of the Saudi population is exposed to SHS daily, mainly from household sources, especially male family members. A significant association was found between SHS exposure and the presence of respiratory symptoms. Public awareness regarding the prevalence and dangers of SHS exposure is essential in order to alleviate the impact of SHS on the health of the general Saudi population. Additionally, further research is required in this field and demographic group to develop appropriate interventions.

Keywords: passive smoking; public health and safety; respiratory symptoms; second-hand smoke; saudi arabia.