Nutrition status of elderly smokers and former smokers of São Paulo City, Brazil.

Objectives: The concomitance of smoking and poor dietary habits represents a worsened prognosis of health and quality of life for elderly. The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional status of elderly who were smokers and former smokers and residents of São Paulo city.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010 with a representative sample of 1,345 individuals aged 60 years and over, who were part of the elderly cohort monitored at the SABE Study. Sociodemographic, health, and nutritional aspects of the elderly were described, according to their tobacco use in life.

Results: The proportion of smokers and former smokers was 12.9 and 54.7%, 11.0 and 25.2%, and 11.8 and 37.2% for male, female, and total population, respectively. For both genders, increasing age decreased the proportion of smokers. The proportion of proper fruit intake was smaller for female smokers. Poorer nutritional status was observed in smokers, who had fewer meals per day and greater frequency of underweight compared with elderly nonsmokers.

Conclusion: Considering the impact of inappropriate eating habits and smoking on health, elderly smokers deserve special attention on their nutritional status.