Can Lifestyle Influence the Risk of High Nicotine Dependence?

Abstract Background: Nicotine dependence (ND) is a maladaptive pattern of tobacco smoking with withdrawal symptoms like other drug addictive disorders. It is very common in clinic that smokers always have different degree of nicotine dependence with same amount of tobacco consumption. Lifestyle may influence cigarettes daily consumption or smoke state. So it is critical to prove the influence of healthy or unhealthy lifestyles in high nicotine dependence smokers. This study aimed to identify behavioral correlates to high ND. Methods: 343 patients who went to clinic for smoking cessation were recruited. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire. The extent of Nicotine dependence was determined by Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Results: High ND patients (FTND>5) showed significant life style compared with mild and moderate ND patients (FTND<5) is significantly ( χ 2 =36.98, P value=0.002). There is no single lifestyle index can significantly distinguish high ND from mild and moderate ND. However, combined behaviors of caffeine drink and mental activities after dinner contribute to the risk of high ND (OR:1.939, 95%CI:1.154-3.258, P value=0.012). In addition, combined index of(sleep time < 8 hours, caffeine drink and mental activities after dinner) each significantly distinguished patients of high ND from patients of mild and moderate ND. with high nicotine dependence(OR:2.208, 95%CI:1.032-4.737, P value=0.042）. Conclusion: Interact effects of mental activities after dinner and caffeine drink will increase the risk of high nicotine dependence. Sleep less than 8 hours with behaviors of mental activities after dinner and caffeine drink also have the same effect.