USC Tobacco Industry Monitoring Project Collection
Passive Smoking at Work As A Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease in Chinese Women Who Have Never Smoked
Abstract
Technical, medical article from the Dept. of Epidemiology, 4th Military Medical University, Xi'an, China and several other universities on the impacts of passive smoking which comes to the conclusion that passive smoking at work is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and that urgent public health measures are needed to reduce smoking and protect non-smokers from passive smoking in China. Article refers to a study on 59 female patients with coronary heart disease and 126 controls, all Chinese non-smokers with full-time jobs. Reports, furthermore, that China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco worldwide (30% of the world's cigarettes are consumed by China's 300 million smokers.)
Fields
- Target Market
- Female
- Non-Smoker
- Strategy
- No
- Message
- None
- Subject
- Cigarettes
- data analysis
- Diseases
- drug effects
- Health Effects
- Heart Disease
- Medical Literature
- Research
- Smoke
- Women
- workplace
- Academic Institutions
Document Images
T
2 3-JUL-1994 14= 55
Dep.rtmeatof
Epidemiology, 4ts Afihtazy
Medical Univeriiey, Xi'ta,
Cbina
Y He, kcrvaer
LS Li, proJsssor
JYHI>ang,lWnMs
Departmeat of Commuaity
Medicine, Univesairy of
Hong Kong, Hoog Kong
z-H 12=. reader
Department ofCordioloay,
4th Milltaty Medieai
University, xi~an, ciina
L S Li, projeamr
R Y Du, yrvfeua.
G L J'sa, PrMssscs
J S Zbeng, laexwm.
Corttspondence to:
Dr T H Ism, Depanmont of
Community Mediane.
University of Hons iCoug.
5 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong.
8My199L":)8D1
380
44 71 495 3101 P.8o8/013
Passive smoking at work as a risk factor for coronary heart disease in
Chinese women who have never smoked
Y He, T H Lam, L S Li, L S Li, R Y Du, G L fia, J Y Huang, J S Zherlg
Abstract
Oblsrdpr-To study whether passive smo3dag at
work is a risk factor for coronary Iteart disease.
Desigte--Case-eo atrol study.
Sattut~-Xi'an, China.
Subjccia-59 patients with coronary heart disease
and 126 eontrols, all Chinese women with full time
jobs, who had never smflked cigaretrss.
..Rasultr-The crude odds ratio for passive smok-
ing from huaband.eas 2'12 (95'/. confidence intervai
106 to 4-25) and at work was 2-45 (1-23 to 4-88). Zhe
final logistic regression model, with passive smoking
from husband and at work as the base, ineluded age,
lsjstnry of}iypertension, type Apertonality, stndtotal
cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol
coucentrailons; the ad'yusted odds ratios for passive
smoking from husbandand at.vork..ere 1-24 (0-56 to
272) and 185 (fl-86 to 3 00) respectively. For passive
smoking at work, statistlcally aigaificanc linear
trends of increasing risks (for both crude and
adjusted odds ratios) with increasing esposuses
(amount esposed daily, number of smokers, number
of hours exposed daily, and cumulative exposure)
were obaerved. When t8est exposure variables wese
analysed as continuous varfables, the crude and
adjusted odds ratios were also significanL
Conclusion--Pasaive smoking at work is a risk
factor for coronary heart disease. Urgent public
hesslth measures are needed to reduce smoldag and
to protect noa-smo.kars from passive smoking in
~'.hi3a.
;nnroducdon
Passive smoking has beca confirmed as a cause of
lung cancer in adults a.ttd respiratory ill health in
children,' but the role of passive smoking in causing
coronary heart disease is still unsetded. Evidence that
passive smoking is associated with coronary ha=
disease is increasing. G+1anQ and Parmley reviewed the
resulu of 10 epidemiological studies, together with
physiological and biochemical data, and concluded
that passive smoking causes heart disease.' The same
conclusion was reached in a review by Taylor et al.'
There have since been two caae-controi studies, both
associating passive smoking with increased tisk of
coronary heart d'iseaSe. s
As for the source of passive smoking, most previous
studies reported assaelations with exposure from
spouse exclusively. Of the 12 studies (eight prospective
and four case-control studies) mentioned above, only
two casccontrol studies presented data on passive
smo]ang at work. In Britain Lcc u a! found no
increase in risk for a combined index of passive
smoking which included exposures at home, at work,
during aravcl, and during leisure. This study had a
small sample <:~.,r only 30 cases in mea and 36 in
women.' In Australia Dobson st a1 found increaaed
odds ratios for passive smoking at home for mea and
women, but the odds ratios for passive smoking at
work did not suggest increased risk-''fhi.s study had a
Largcr sample, 174 cases in men but only 27 in momen.
Stcc.uiand recenriy reviewed nine epiaemiologtical
studies, pointing out that the lack of data on exposures
to environnzenral tobacco smoke outside the home was
one of the major weakaesses in the epidemiological
evidence: G7sarz and Parmley also considered that the
stitdies they reviewed underestimated the risk because
exposures at home are generally smaller than exposures
ataork.`
In China, our earlier study on non-smoking women
in Xi'an included 34 cases and 68 controls.' It found an
adjusted odds ratio for passive smoking from husband
of 150 (95% confidence interval 1-28 to 1-77). How-
ever, this study did not include details of exposure for
passive smoking at work. The present study is a second
asrcottttol study which aims to study whether passive
smoking at work is a risk factor for coronary heart
diaease in women who have never smoked. It takes into
account passive smoking from the husband and other
risk factors.
Subjeets and methods
Tlu cases were patients with coronary heart diseasc
(non-fatsJ, intadeat caxe) from the three large teaching
hospitals of two medical universities in Xi'an betweea
December 1989 and November 1992. 7Iu futal diag-
nosis was myocardial infamdon according to WHO
cziteria' or coronary stenosis confirmed by coronary
arteriography. Coronary artetiography was performcd
using Judkins's tcchaique'° and analysed by two
experienced cardioradiologisss independently. The
criterion of diagnosis of coronary heatt disease was a
finding ofmorc than 50% occlusion in at Icast one of the
major attaies. The agreement between the two radio-
logists was over 90%. Patients with occlusion of 50°/* or
less were ezcluded.
The controls were from three sources: patients
admitted because of suspected or diagnosod coronary
heart disease but confirmed to be normal after coronary
arteriography (no coronary stenosia at all); other
medical outpatients attending cardiology depxrmsents
(patients with psychosomatic symptoms, nienopausal
syndrome, dysrhythmia, or non-cardiac chest pain);
and a random sample of healthy subjects from a
community screening programme for coronary heart
disease. The latter two groups were confirmed to be
free of coronary heaxt disease by WHO csiteria' atld~y
normal exercise electrocardiography.
A standardised questionnaire was designed to eollect~
inforttlation on demographic characteristics (such asN
ethnic origin, age, residential history, edueationalCJZ
level, occupation, and marital status); history of(Z
hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes me7litus; ~
fsalily history of hypertension, stroke, and coronary
heart diseAse; history of smoking and passive smoking
~
from husband and at worh; drinlong history; exercise;
and psychosocial factors (such as Type A personality, ~
experience of mental trautaa, and saassful life evenrs). ~
The intetviews were carried out by three trained
interviewers, before coronary arreriography for
patients scheduled for coronary arteriography or
diuing recovery for titose with myoeardial infaretion.
'17se non-response rats was 8°/..
Physica3 exaalirrauoss followed standard me-t'taods
HM,] vax.Ui,ia 308 51imsfvwxY 1994

20-JUL-1994 14:56
and included hcight, weight, body mass index, systouc
and diastolic blood pressurc, chest tadiogtaphy, and
dectrocardiography. Laboratory investigations
included serum concentsstions of total cholesterol,
triglycetides, low dcnsity lipoprotein cholesterol, high
density tipoproteia cholesterol, and apolipoproteiQ
A-i and B and tesss of liver and renal function.
Only ethnic Chinese women who had never smoked
(lifelong non-smokers) and who had a full time job
were included (full time housewives, peasaats, and
those who were tttired for five years or more were
excluded).
Passive smoking from husband was defined as siving
with a amoking husband for over five years. Single
women would have been considered as not exposed,
but all subjects were found to be married. Passive
smoking at work was defined as working with smoking
coworkers in the same office or factory unit for over five
years. Periods away from the work environment were
considered as no esposure in the workplace. All
subjects were found to be either not exposed or
exposed for over five years.
TAYLS='-4=hQ/ntk77R1Ct OfCuLS and Gi)1UMt
No f!.) No C)4)
ofaw ofoooaata
C6naawade (P-59) (n- 126) )e Pvi7as
Ac= tywi+):
K.~SS
19~
61{s)
;056 39(66) 59(47) 6-26 004!
M.rirat ~nws:
Marfini
53(90)
119(94)
DivoeeaA I (2) 2 Cl)
Wlide,.od 5(9) 5(4) 160 "5
ooao.u.a
ICK----t
16 cm
(
34(27)
31
~ mScet »
(~6) () 1-s1 047
sduonm (yoa+):
0-3
1(2)
1(1)
..a 15(25) 24 (21)
7 9 16(27) 34 (27)
1042 8(14) 33(26)
*13 1902) 32(25) F-29 0-37
Twazta-Espoxwe oapmsfvrmakinaas 91 mmrols crndaata
Ne(%)
espo-d to No ('/+)
pmlre exporcd w
sumaking u" ~
lsufAwd atsosic
canav(,:
No e«aasry uaioaspbyx osima he-
d+.n.e(R.t,S)
2903)
21(3II)
M;.dlsAO.ea., aa+as ma,osy Jx.es d>efte
(a-26)
12(46)
8(31)
C.-(a.59) 33(6f) 33(S6)
rw=.e ar-Pa:eivs mrkers feu., k,a3and and at awk and ovds
addr rodos emm arylra.t dueau
cHee oaas ntio
Noof Noof (9SS4coafideeos Y'
ce,cs eoyoo7a inta.i) (totreetsd) 9.,tue
P.ni.a fmpldp, ¢om hutlNpd:
No 21 68 t-00
Yes 38 58 2I2(1-06ta425) l-TZ 0-030
PaNire Cnoiiaa at rork
No 26 83 1.00
Ya 33 43 245()23t04ef) 702 0-008
r,.uzrv--Straafud aeolysis jorPauiae rno7m.t f,o,n Jt,udsrdand ar roork
Pa%rve EMakm8 cad. odd3 rusio
Noot Noof (9SS.eoafiemos
mm hu,bmd A[.vo[R wa coauol mtasQ (eomaed) P YaBu
No Ne
Y e+ No
No Ya
Yn Ya
11
)s
10
23
50
33
1s
25
1.00
2-07 (0781o 5-55)
2r53(082 to 7-e3)
4-18 (1 63 ro i092)
x'
1-91
2-42
9-i3
0.17
0-12
0-002
O"m!1 df-!. r-n9i. Ta,[!ot tAxd: Y' -i9-94. Pc400 i.
44 71 495 3101 P.809/813
~.cwut~y .....~...~ ..
recording of the interviews (for 10% of hospital
subjects), interviewing the husband to vaildate the data
from the wife (for one third of hospital subjects),
and single blind reintecview by a second interviewer
who was not awsrc of the Case-control sratus of the
subjens (for 30% of hospital subjects). Furrheanore,
26 patie.nts had inizialiy been diagnosed as having
coronary heart disease and were interviewed before
coronary atteriography but were subsequently con-
8rnxed by coronary arcetiogrnphy to be normal. This
group of "**aguosed" patients , was accepted as
contxnis and their exposure to passive smoking was
compsred with that of controls and cases who had not
had coronary arteriography to check for subjective bias
due to interviewers.
Por the caleniation of sample size required, it should
be noted that the crude odds ratio for passive smoking
from husband found in our previous study was
30. 1sslsming the proportion of exposure to passive
smoking at work in the controls was 35"/., for a
sigitifltstarz of 5%and a power of 80°/., 58 cases and 116
controls (one case to two controls) were required to
detcet a cude odds ratio of 2-5.
The data were managed and analysed by using the
computcrpaclagea of Epi-Iafo (5.0) and srss-rc (3.1).
Tha statistical procedures used iacluded rc, t test, x'
test, )e teu for trend, and standard muitivariate
techniques for unmatched case-control studies (strati-
fied anslysis and multiple logistic regression analyris)."
Tiu present study included 59 cases of coronary
heart disease (34 were confirmed by coronary arterio-
graphy and 25 sv;th myocardial iafarction) and 126
conttols (61 confitmed as negative on coronary arterio-
grapby, 28 outpetients in cardiology depasttaeats, and
37 ftom community screening). Ages of ases ranged
from 37 to 67 years and of controls from 42 to 66 years.
About 70'/0 of all eligible cases of coronaty heart disease
tteated in the three hosp-:rals were included.
Resalts
The characteristics of the controls &om the thsrc
sources wtre compared and no significant differenttis
were found. The controls were therefore combined in
subsequent analyses. Table I shows that tho cases and
controls were similar in marital status, occupation, and
educatioa but these were more older subjects among
the cases. The mean (SD) age of the cases (58-0 (539)
years) was greater than that of thc controls (55-0, (5,05)
yeass; t-3-69, P-0-002). All the subjects had 1hWed in
Xi'aa for more than 20 years.
Results on single blind test-retest by two inter
viewers on 35 hospital subjects (16 tases and 19
controls) showed good agreement, ranging from 75%
to 95°!. for the 10 risk factors tested, with K values
raaging fram 0-4 to 0-8 (nine x values with P< 0-01 and
one with P<005; data not shown).
Table II shows that the eaposure to passive smoldn~g
in the misdiaguosed controls was similar to that of the
controls shown not to have coronary heart disease but 1%,
differeat ftom that of the cases. There was no history tdwr~
of excxss exposure in the misdiagnosed groups,
suggesting that there was no subjective bias in the ~
interviews.
M
For passive smoking from husband, the crude odds ratio was 2-12 (1 06 to 4-25) (table III).'I'b.e
sizea of the ~
living qnartess of cases and controls who were exposed
.~
to passive smoking from husband were not signh'i-
rsntly d"iffereat. Table III also shows that the crude
~
odds ratio for passive smoking at work was 2-45 (1-23 ~
to 488). The statistical power, calculated from table W
III with a sifpificance level of 5'/0, was 79°/..
Table IV shows the resulta of stratified anatysis for
the naro rwestrer.a of passive smoking. The odds ratio for
1
1
BN1J VOLUME 308 5 r-ssxunxy 1994 381

4
a
.1
2,0-JUU-1994 i4=57
a.uuavtu+-~+ .+}+vouac w aiuw av...r..q -. ..., .,.n ..atyuu~
higher than expected from the additive model (207+
2-53-1-3-60) but much less than expected from the
alultiplicauve model (207x2-53-5-24). The crude
odds ratio for any exposure (from husband or at work,
or both) was 2-87 (1-28 to 6-55).
Table V shows the final model of logistic regression
analysis wt3ich included passive smoking from
husband and at work as the base (these two variables
were included irl the model before other variables were
entered and tested) and agey,,~h,~g., history of hypertension,
^,Jpe A pe1ro333~Ity, and +h density hpOpFOCC1n
cholesterol concentcation. Other risk factots bad also
been tested by forward and backward stepwise pro-
cedures but none affected the model sigaificantiy. The
interaction term of the two passive smoking risk factors
(passive smoking from husband multiplied by passive
smoking at work) was also tested but was not sigaifi-
cutt. The adjusted odds ratio for passive smoking from
husband was 1-24 (056 to 2-72) and at work was 185
(0-86 to 4-00). Both adjusted odds ratios were smaller
than the respective crude odds ratios and became
non-sigaificant after the other five risk factors svert
included in the final model. When passive smolang was
removed from the logistic model the adjusted odds
TAetsv-bledde eflorirna repwioe mlalys& af riai)facws
Adiuxod odd.,.oo
(95Y.®fidmoe ioea..p Pr&Lte
Fma! mndd (saaon 1 to 7):
1 Aso(yars)
113(1N4TO122)
0903
2 x~:t~t,oE>,,pe~en 247(114:as-36) 0-022
3'CypeApasmWW 2a3 (131 mss7) ouos
4 Totat c(ta..a.sos (mrd<)
s 102 (1-01 w 1-03) 6aoo6
~~ 0-%(0-900-90 0.00
6 Pa,sivessmolimgsum1*usb.oa 1-xs (c-56 to 2-72) oso
7 pa,.ivo.mokotatwoet 165(oa6tosroo) oI2
Ot~er modd (fltaaes I to S emd
pasd.e ototsg a t.ot0
195(O90 to 4 10)t
0-0$7
Otker ntodd (6aoa I to 5 md
pfm.e fmoldreS SoLf hutDand
o[eit40ei.oDboth)
236(1Ol to5'55)t
0O!9
'Adionw fee tn. otee:v.d.btcs m.he final modd.
tAdleNttd for dse fitK fine v.ii.ble, .bo+e: oEds atlos Ios tLm r.riablet
m tho other modds waa es.mdslly me same u dnou Ywevn above and sro
aot1eowa.
44 71 495 3101 P.010i013
(1-92)Vbut was sriil not signi5cant However, the
adjusted odds ratio for any exposure (from husband or
at work, or boih) was 4o ificant (2-36; 1-01 to 555).
The relation between odds ratios and amount of
exposure to passive smoking from husband and at
work were examined. For passive smoking from
husband, the crude odds ratios showed significant
linear trends with amount smoked daily by husband,
duration of a(posure, and cumulative exposure
(amount daily multiplied by duration), but the aends
became non-sigaifinnr after passive smoking at work
and the other five risk factors were adjusted for in the
5nal model (data not shown). However, for passive
smoking ac work, table VI shows that sigaiScant
linear treads were found for the crude odds ratios in
amount smoked daily, dusation of exposure, number
of smokers, esposure time daily, and cumulative
exposure. For adjusted odds ratios, the linear trcnds
were significant for all the variables except duration of
saposure. When passive smoking from husband was
removed from the logistic model, the odds ratios for
passive smoking at work were only slightly higher,
suggesting that the effeet4 of mtilticolineasity of the
two exposure variables were small. Table VII shows
simiIar results when these variables were analysed as
contiauous variables, and table VIIL shows that there
were sigaificant trcnds for the two ir.tdices of combined
acpostue from husband and at work.
Discussion
The outcome or end point of this study is non-fatal
incident cam of coronary heart disease. This is similair
to those in the previous four case-control studies on
passive smoking and coronary heart disease."' 1Host
prewous pfospecrive stndies used mortality as the
outcome measure. Despite the difference in end poilit,
the relative risks for passive smolC3Cg were quite
similar.' Although there may be preyalente-incidenee
bias in using non-fatal cases, the obvious advantage is
that s1le:pauents can provide more and better infor-
mation oh expost>re and other confounding factor:.
QtlesTionnnirr.a or interviews are the key in3tt(1-
ments in studies on passive smolang. Cummings ea al
TAata vi--Aauive awbinr ol esnnE and adds raaos ojearvrtarylsma disame
Seeeed
.d9a.ecd
Noof Noof CGndeodd.aeo Faetadjmtatoddaa.tio raSue T.aine odds
Psaai:em:otm><at.etk eacs ooaaoli (9Y% eonAdmeeuuavai)(95%oonddeaeei6tarsl)' (dobslle><) (I3aouaond)
ntivt
No ofeiosaes/daf smolred by oo.orkess:
o-5(,rnt.urute) 26 e3
6-10 10 23
1uo
128(o-50to324)
ae7(aao,o2-ss)
0-9s
11-20 13 14 342 (1SS to!7+) 295 (1b7 to 628) 0019 0022 304
a-2c B 4 6-3e (1-57 re 2ra4) 3-36 (0-B1 m iS-SE) , 3-66
Ten fa amd
ntM ". ofazp~(Tezra):
0.S (.aiuaay ssto) 26 t! ~-16 15, P<fl OOi
100
6.13 L 12 213(070tn640) 3OS(090rs1058) 3-20
2-14 25 31 257(12f1o$d2) 156(P61tol-64) 024 012 162
Testfortt,121d XI.7-73, P<0W5
Noot®o)ores
0 26 83
1t+o
©
s 2 16 36 t42(o-64co)1s) 116(048w2EZ) r23
3 - - 12 6 63a(1L97ee21+51) 5-06(142eu12-02) 0019 0024 517
Z04 S 1 1!96(1-67to37820) 411(0-39to43-68) 4SO Nl
Trst for ccad ~('-1750, P<0 00!
Fxposnse dme daily (hoas): ~
0 26 83
1-2 8 30 1 -00
0-8? (0°.1 to 223)
062 (022 co 1-80)
065
~
3-4 15 11 4+35 (1164 to 1173) 403 (133 to 12-25) 0001 0-002 4416
O
~05 10 2 i396 (2-98 t011332) 213Y (2-71 to 16aDO) 22-49 r +
Tar Coramd z'-2158, t<00001 ~
Cumulatlre o:vowre (dsaccsa/dayayeari:.mokess+soue,): .
0 26 83 1-00
1-2000 13 32 130 (0-35 to 3-03) l00 (0)9 te 2-57) 1-05
2001-4000 5 3 2-00 (OS1 to 755) 203 (017 [o 867) 000S 0003 2.11 ~
}I001 13 3 1S96 (3-B9m 7527) 9-23 (2-01 m42-23) 9-63
Teat foe ecad )e.ZO76.P <0001
Aajt>.d~fr,rye. Lataay et>aspeemom, pasonaury t7p., toaw dsolnmai, biah destritykyoprotein
eholeaetoL .nd pa.irvs rmolmes from pwb.nd.
}Adiwtod for ..:ia6los.bo+rq exapt for pri+++"c unoJimg &M Ausband. Tht 9'SY. ean8dmcc ocn..b .,,,
a11 dis6tlr hi8he utd rbe ! values atc al1 a(i~
lo.er t6m tho.e borStxt ufitvted oddr ratio md are noc.hmea
382
B.titJ yor.uME 308 5PRastuam 1994

20-JUL-1994 14:57
-r,ax e.vn-Paszivc s+wkiar e+ aaorJe as rontinrreus varia~ and odds rudos oJco.onary Tuarr deuars
second
crude odds ru;4 P'aie,dinued odds r:r;o- ad;,lasd
P.as'r.r.o,o)oo¢.cv«kncenanuous.anable. (95Y.eotfldmceMtern!) (95'/.eon!' emtclva[) edd3tuiot
Amouni daily (dtueQedoa7) 1066 (1 -035 to 1106)
Durn;onofezm.u=e (veu+) 1a17 (1,o1sao 1c76)
Na of fmokers 1-633 (126S to 21DU
Esyosura- doly (hau+) 1480 (1234 to 1775)
Cmauiadre Qpo+uze (oyutuc+Iday-Y-
aokM:houts/100) i-03a (i020to iOSa)
1-050(U007 to 1094) 1D51
1-027 (a-sn3 to 1-061) 3-o2a
1 -425 (1.o4a ro 1 -937) 1-ao
1'1+7 (1145 to 1829) ia5f
1-031(1-0S t to 1D62)
1-032
-ndjta (or age, histaty of hvs«unsiatr Qer,ae,vn M)e. WW d>olccaa, ludt 4Mw 1*0~ aba"wa.
aad as,ai.e.moiwot liom -'--^ +
tr,a;taeed fu..3;.bLe. .1 ae, e:ce" c>x pn+ve ,awtons sum hwssad. The 99.4 eontldmn mtMv11S .R .u
,asadyh;d.athn aho.e(or d+. rnY,eimrcd odds twoft .odare ea abc+.a.
r,," vm--Q.ntiard ePa+lne w 9anicr srtak* !-« tturr,ond
and ot marir aadoddc raaos ejeormroyl,rm dvau
Pr.tue Yva7ue
Adionad tteds raao (slobs Pmeu
Indirnefeembieeidapmvxs (9SYsmefidtncriosnyd) te<t) Rsod)
>>,a~ w
0 t.oo
1-499 1 .79 ("5 so 492)
500-999 rs5(o-92to?io) Da4 o-a23
? 1000 39S (1-03 w 1533)
taees B=:
Saoes D (nii) 1.00
se«. i powssyo.ate) 1~s (o ss w ras)
seoee 2(mod=su ayo,etc) 3-l l(1,os m 912) 0.059 0.008
scwe 3Nd, croaare) 7-61(115 to 50- Is)
',wmmd sK s, hatar9 ef>>"enrommf pR,oayxy rmw. tow doks-
tadL and high des.in fiaowe® mdamrai.
tSum ot cuamladve eTomme (mm httsbmd (dprauea/d+r7-mrs) and m
mda oe-posur. at r+oet (.mo.m eWo.ed/d.r=d-t>on otCXy-).
3Cumubwe uyonue from Lu,b.ad (dtaasddqinats) .u aecoded
iMO Couc otq.,ti~ (foo(e 0-!w erpenat. tooeo 1- 1-099, seott 2-400
799, aeote 3>soo). .ad cummul,dve esro.tm u woek (ciPsoadd.r=
yasssanokas.Lmes) waa recaded into laos etugvoo (surt 0-no
cqx.ure, mom 1.1.2oce, .core 2.zoo1-400), scm as4oot). sat mo
sooess .ete .dd-3 (r.nse D-4) .od ,ecnded inra 4 oeo=ma (sute o.no
c+poaee. rea[t 1.1 w 2, 3eose 2-3 to 6. /CDIt 3-5 eo 6) to &tat Iolks 8.
showed that subjects were able to report an accuratc
histoty of exposure to passive smoking: the level
of agreement between subjects and su:rogates on
exposure to tobacco smoke at work was 78°le (x.05);
the level of agreement for exposure to spouse smoking
was 86% (K-o-7).= We used the test retest method
with two interviewcls: the agreement for passive
smokiag at work was 743'/0 (k-05, PG0~01), and for
passive smoking from husband the agteement was
914% (K-08, P<0'01). We did not interview
subjects again on quanuty of exposure, but for this
aspect the agreement should be lower.
Validation by cotinine testing was not possible for
past exposures in case-control studies. The analysis for
trend should yield better evidence for causal inference
of whether or nor there is increased risk due to
exposure but would not be precise enough for risk
assessment for unit dose of eYposure.
Because different sources of subjects might be a
potential source of bias in the present study, exposures
to passive smoking in each of the two series of cases
(those confirmed by coroaary ureriog(aphy and by
myocardial infarction) were compared with exposures
in each of the three sources of controls (cases confirmed
negative on coronary atteriography, outparients, and
community controls). The crude odds ratios for
passive smoking from husband ranged from 2-0 to 2-3
for cascs confirmed by coronary artcriography and
from 2-0 to 2-2 for thosc confirmed by myoeardial
infarction; for passive smoking at cvork, the crude odds
:atias ranged from 18 to 3-6 and from 1-9 to 3-6
respectively. As the results of separate analysis were
consisteilt, pooled analysis was justified.
Results of various quality control measures on
selected subjects suggested that the data should be
reasonably reliable and free from bias. Moreover,
people in Xi'an were unaware of The issue of passive
smoking, and bias due to overreporting of exposure in
coronary heart discasc patients was 3mlilce3y. 'f he bias
44 71 495 3101 P.a11i013
due to misclassification of current and ex-smokers as
lifelong non-smokers should be small bocause the
prevalence of femalc smokea in China was very low as
compared with Western countries. Tiu prevalenoe of
rcgular smokess in females aged 40-65 was 86% in nce
province of Shaanxi, of w3vch Xi'an is she capiral."
Both this and our previous studies showed that
passive smoking from husband was associated with
coronary heart diseass. The crude odds rado of 2-12
(106 to 4-25) in the present study was smaller but
consistent with the value of 3-00 (1-26 to 7-17) in the
previous study.' Although the adjusted odds ratio of
1-24 (0-56 to 2-72) was not statistically significant, it
was consistent with the previous adjusted odds ratio of
150 (1-28 to 1'77). The variables adjusted were not the
same in the two studies, and passive smoking at work
was adjusted in the present study but not in the
previous one. Thus the results of thesc two studies,
together with the evidence from other countries, are
strong evidence suggesting that passive smoking from
the husband is likely to be a causal factor for coronary
heart disease in women in Xi'an who have never
smokLd.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study
showing an increased risk of coronary heart disease
with increasing exposurc to passive smoking at work
(ande and adjusted odds ratios were 245 (1-23 to
4-88) and 1-85 (0-86 to 400) respectively). With the
exception of number of years of exposure, the linear
trends for amount exposed daily, number of smokers,
number of hours exposed daily, and cumulative expo-
sure were all statistically significant. These results
strongiy suggest that passive smoking at work is a risk
factor for coronary hcart disease, even after passive
smoking from husband is taken into account. When
passive smoking from husband was not included, the
adjusted odds ratios were slightly higher.
Comparing the odds ratios for the two sources of
environazental tobacco smoke, the crude and adjusted
odds ratios for passive smoking at work were slightly
greater than,those for passive smoking from husband
(although the 95% confidence intervals overlapped). If
Lliese were not duc so chance, the higher risk for
passive smoking at work may be explained by the fact
that exposures to tobacco smoke at work are higher
than exposures at home because the dcsuiry of smokers
is higher at work, and the length of stay at work for a
working woatan is longer than the time she is exposed
to her husband's smoking at home. Stratified analysis
in the present study suggests that the effects of the two
ane additive and that there is no significant iateraction.
Because the prevalence of smoking among men is high
in China and most men smoke freely at home and at
work, women arc heavily exposed to environmental
tobacco smoke and the magnitude of the risks could be
quite high.
To conciude, the present study provides furrher
evidence that environmental tobacco smoke, including
smoke at work, is likely to be a cause of coronary heart
disease. ?he weaknesses of the present study are
recognised and further studies are required to investi- ~
gate the role of passive smoking at work and its
~.
intcraction with passive smoking at home and from other sources. However, China is the largest
producer
and consumer of tobacco in rhe world-30% of the l~
world's cigarettes are consumed by China's 300 million
}A
smokers. In 1984, the prevalence of smoking in the ~
popuiation aged 15 and above was 61% in men and w.
7% in women. Forty per cent of non-smokers were
exposetd to environmental tobacco smoke for over 15 ~
minutes a day: 67% of the passive smokers were
exposed at tsoase, 14"/o at work or in public places, and
19% both at home and at work." Smoking among
young people has increased in recent years." Despite
the eGilrtS to control 319a1'.ins, most women ara sti3p
BMY voiuaE 308 5 gseRunaY 1994 383

2.0-J1JL-1994 14:58
OiII1C2I impucOti00.s
pphether passive smoking is a cause of
coronary heart disease is still tontmveaial
Previous studies have shovrnn that coronary
heart disease iu assocazted rvith passive smoking
at home but not ©aislt passive smoking at work
This stndy shows that for womea's passive
smolrini, at work there were sigui5cant liaear
trcnds of iaasased xisks of coronary hcart
dlstasa with +^masing eaposures, even afcet
adiustmeat for major risk factors and psssive
smoidag from hasband
Urgent public hralth measures src nccdcd to
leducC smoking m China
rxposed to tobacco .naoke at home and at worlr. They
are also tu>aware of the Inazards of passive smoking sad
are in a disadvantaged position to protect themselves
from environmental tobacco smoke. Urgent public
health measures an required to reduce smoking in
Chiaa so as not only to protect women from eaviron-
mentsl tobaceo smoke but also men from the hazards of
active smokiag.
We t5anic the 3rd Intenational Confa+sce'oa Pterentive
CArdiolov for its Young Iavestigswrs Aoard, the Stm Yat
Sen Fowxdation Fund, and the Chiaa Medial Board FeIIow-
44 71 495 3101 P.012i013
ship of the Facvlty of Medicine, Univexaily of Hong Kong,
for suppoeaag Dr Y He's trsearcls in Hong KoaV~Mr C M
Wong for sariarfnl advioe, ltiiiss S F Chung for resesrch
asssscsnce; and Miu M Chi for derieai assisnoee.
1 Uaiu9 Swa Fa.ssa+mul I'-kCaM AscKY. R.ob.wy A..tA fw 4
y0"s s..M:tr +.r E --I .dw iu~om ma*ioV.W. DC Us
Fa.r®®u A.rc+fesAv-w. 1992,
z Mmoc s+L FM+es urm. r,.c,o soimW ,m l.ca,c m~ .o:...iniopr,
yayfi0iep,.nairoee®isr. Gl'~ar..~.19s1,aJ:11s.
s T.ykr A8 J~r DC. Kaa® ii fievfeaoawY wira. ®ots aea
nnGo.,.euLrdias.clRad:w 1942X&e9v.7o2.
4 Dc`.m -AJ. JL-Lmz~dnt Iiir4 Heiler BF. tSold DM. tsi.e a®ot1M aeA Ae
mtefCe>rtsW..k a..Wti..rydadLAGlY.t- iM I;iflc7lST.
5 VecQ+. Ct. D'As.6xe 1. z as1 bUi. Topne: O. la..l.e Naii.6 ..d Me
ri~k~swn ~}oc=dul icLrcam. io.oa 19933~Ly0S6.
a l.e Psd. (3t~6edra J.,Me,u.l4tit sama,mn;y.[arNp ar,~y~ r drt
o[ Ln =.eQ a.d u®ae saea:or4acatad d+.erea e. y GW
19Sb;Sio47-1QS-
7 SYsa1aA K. lr.e .molia< -8d ths d.k d Lnat drt..e.,fiNLf i!!2'JL'R
9f-!,
a Ks Y. fJ LS.>1r IIi L' 7S,?bcui ]t1. Ta GL V7MSe.'. Mow a.ti.a
.nameasrearsi'raW- pw,/P+..Fla l9as:ztas.22.
~ Joint Lsnasuuai Sp^cq d Fnesaaoa af Ctadide1'eWadd lln"
.: oePd.a+. 21+t F«~. .. SQodadaadnM o( C}iira! Nama.d.auW_
x-Wd6mt .o. alo.b ra
.;kuJoi 1T79yMama.
10 Rttlia 7dP. Selecti.e ooear7 xftCd0VMptif p+R L AfoaaAmmom
traefppaeal wchaie. It.Bdqp 19i7;Me15.24.
LI &md9v AI$ DV NP- Si.ir:vl..eiak ...eAw rrY.rh. Vd 1. 71.r r.ber
m Ooo< .
(aUr4e.oj tadis. lJ'M ImomEiOea A~eaq for ltsand,
l9sD.
12 Gtatmiwp RAb tLeldb Sb wbm4 MC, MABb" 1K. Muwuemm a[
>~aas.res.... op.wl.e aae~e.A w 7Ff~~e.:er I9a9;uk1+'~
13 Wat XZ, fiaes M Cl- DY, 25..{ lYL G® SZ,15s bC. d..9ria 4
.lat I .lr ,l...aw.r .u.i:V ...aw wWobt. 3.114p *ww' Hw
ta06bmL 19f1.0aGhoesia
14 MGebr 1. Nw SIC tbrkoa A. Iam T$ Mqq C.3ootft rosi d:as
3 o.m. a smfer eliat Zsim C.rrt 19l9,2:7-L
uu.w raJ~>>s+~D
