WHAT IS THE SMOKING RATE AND HOW IS IT CALCULATED? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The smoking index, also called IT, is a reference number that reflects the average consumption of tobacco in an individual. It is generally done to estimate an individual's chances of suffering from respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Since the calculation of the smoking index allows determining the probabilities of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it should be carried out by any active smoker as a means of prevention.

Who should take a smoking index?

The smoking index is carried out in active smokers, and not in passive smokers. As a general rule of thumb, any active smoker should know his or her tobacco use rate so that you know how likely you are to get respiratory diseases.

However, most people who undergo smoking index tests are smokers who have a medical history of breathing problems, cough, dyspnea, irregular wheezing, and poor performance in physical activities.

Function

The function of the smoking index is to calculate the average consumption of tobacco in a smoker.

In addition to this, the smoking index results allow determining the possibility that an individual has of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), caused by tobacco, by exposure to smoke in general, by dust, among others.

The Smoking Index and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Taking into account the figure given by the smoking index, it can be determined how serious the situation of a patient is with respect to the contraction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In the health area, a table has been established that compares the smoking rate with the probability of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The table is as follows:

When the smoking index is less than 10, the risk of COPD is nil.

When the smoking index is between 10 and 20, the risk of COPD is moderate.

When the smoking index is between 21 and 40, the risk of COPD is intense.

When the smoking index is greater than 41, the risk of COPD is high.

Calculation of the smoking index

The smoking rate is calculated by multiplying the number of cigarettes a smoker consumes per day by the number of years in which they have smoked.

The product of this multiplication is divided by 20, resulting in the smoking rate.

Formula for calculating the smoking index

X / 20

Examples of calculating the smoking rate

Example # 1: A patient smokes about 15 cigarettes a day and has smoked for 12 years

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 15 x Years during which you have smoked: 12 = 180/20. Smoking index = 9.

Risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Nil.

Example # 2: A patient smokes about 22 cigarettes a day and has smoked for 18 years.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 22 x Years during which they have smoked: 18 = 396 / 20. Smoking index = 19.8.

Risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Moderate.

Example # 3: A patient smokes about 21 cigarettes a day and has smoked for 36 years.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 21 x Years during which you have smoked: 36 = 756/20. Smoking index: 37, 8

Risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Severe.

Example # 4: A patient smokes about 35 cigarettes a day and has smoked for 24 years.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 35 x Years during which you have smoked: 24 = 840/20. Smoking index: 42.

Risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: High.

Factors that affect the calculation of the smoking index

When calculating the smoking rate, two important factors must be taken into account: intensity and abstinence.

For example, an individual may have started smoking three cigarettes a day and did this for two years. After two years, he began smoking 15 cigarettes a day for seven years. Now the patient smokes 25 cigarettes a day and has done so for five years.

In this case, it is observed that the intensity of the smoker has increased. To calculate the smoking rate for this patient, you need to do three different calculations and then add the resulting rates.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 3 x Years during which you have smoked: 2 = 6/20. Smoking index n ° 1: 0, 3.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 15 x Years during which you have smoked: 7 = 105/20. Smoking index n ° 2: 5, 25.

Number of cigarettes smoked per day: 25 x Years during which you have smoked: 5 = 125/20. Smoking index n ° 3: 6, 25.

Smoking index n ° 1: 0, 3

+

Smoking index n ° 2: 5, 25

+

Smoking index n ° 3: 6, 25

Total smoking rate: 11.8

Risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Moderate.

The same occurs with periods of abstinence, which must be excluded from the calculation of the smoking index.

The smoking index and professional diagnosis

Any individual is able to calculate their own smoking rate if they know the two necessary data (number of cigarettes smoked per day and years during which they have smoked).

However, the calculation of the index by itself is only a reference number, so it is necessary to go to specialists who can advise us from a professional point of view.

Taking into account the results obtained, a doctor could advise other studies, for example, an epirometry, which measures lung capacity.

Once the epirometry has been performed, the specialist will be able to make a diagnosis and order a treatment.

In cases where the risk of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is moderate or severe, the general recommendation is to reduce tobacco use.

For its part, in cases where the risk is high, it is recommended to stop smoking completely.

References

1. Shiffman (2009). How many cigarettes did you smoke? Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Cigarettes per smoker per day. Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from stats.oecd.org
3. Pack-year. Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org
4. Cigarette Consumption. Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from cdc.gov
5. Smoking Statistics. Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from wpro.whi.int
6. Bjartveit (2005). Health consequences of smoking 1-4 cigarrettes per day. Retrieved on June 21, 2017, from tobaccocontrol.bmj.com.