El tabaco es el principal agente medioambiental causante de patología humana. Los trabajadores de la mar (TM) por razones de dureza en su trabajo pueden ser grandes consumidores de tabaco. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la prevalencia de tabaquismo en TM y posibles factores asociados.
Estudio transversal descriptivo. Se estudia, mediante cuestionario cumplimentado por entrevistador y medición de CO en aire espirado, a 834 TM, entre 40-60 años, tanto trabajadores en activo (SA) como clases pasivas (SP), adscritos al Instituto Social de la Marina de Guipúzcoa.
El 47,5% eran fumadores (consumo medio, 33,9 paquetes/año [p/a]; CO en aire espirado, 26,1 ppm) y el 23,7% ex fumadores (28,2 p/a; 6,0 ppm).
El porcentaje de fumadores (59,5% frente a 38,0%; p < 0,001), el consumo de cigarrillos de fumadores y ex fumadores (35,9-27,2 p/a; p < 0,001) y el valor medio de CO en aire espirado (18,8-12,4 ppm; p < 0,001) fueron mayores entre los pescadores de altura (PA) en relación a los de bajura (PB).
Los SP habían consumido más cigarrillos durante su vida que los SA (41,1-30,5 p/a; p < 0,001), pero entre ellos había más ex fumadores (30,8-22,2%; p = 0,04) y menos fumadores (35,6-50,0%; p = 0,002).
La pesca de altura fue la única variable asociada al consumo de cigarrillos y la pertenencia a clases pasivas también fue el único factor asociado al abandono del tabaco.
La prevalencia del tabaquismo entre los TM es elevada a expensas de los PA, SA fundamentalmente, sobre los que deben orientarse primordialmente las medidas antitabaco.
Smoking is the principal environmental cause of human disease and seafarers are often heavy smokers as a consequence of difficult working conditions. The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking among seafarers and possible associated factors.
Cross-sectional descriptive study. Interviewers administered questionnaires to 834 seafarers between 40 and 60 years of age who were registered members of the marine health and social Services authority of Guipúzcoa, whether they were active (working) or passive (unemployed or retired). Expiratory concentrations of CO were also measured.
Smokers accounted for 47.5%. Average consumption was 33.9 packs/year (p/y); CO in expired air was 26.1 ppm. Exsmokers accounted for 23.7% (28.2 p/y; 6.0 ppm).
The percentage of smokers was higher among fishermen of the high seas than among Coastal fishermen (59.5% versus 38.0%; p < 0.001); consumption of cigarettes of both smokers and ex-smokers (35.9-27.2 p/y; p < 0.001) and mean CO concentration in expired air (18.8-12.4 ppm; p < 0.001) were also found to be higher in this group.
Those who had consumed more cigarettes over the course of a lifetime were active seafarers (41.1-30.5 p/y; p < 0.001), but among them were also more ex-smokers (30.8-22.2%; p = 0.04) and fewer current smokers (35.6-50.0%; p = 0.002).
Fishing the high seas was the only variable associated with cigarette consumption; being unemployed or retired was the only factor associated with quitting.
The prevalence of smoking among seafarers is high, especially among fishermen who work on the high seas (most of whom are active); it is toward them that antismoking campaigns should be directed.
