BACKGROUND: In rich countries, smokers, active or passive, often belong to disadvantaged groups. Less is known of @entity286 patterns in the developing world. Hence, we seek out to investigate mental and physical health consequences of smoke exposure as well as @entity286 -related inequality in transitional middle-income Thailand. METHODS: We studied a nationwide cohort of 87,151 middle-aged and older adults that we have been following for eight years (2005-2013) for emerging @entity102 . Logistic regression was used to identify attributes associated with passive smoke exposure. Longitudinal associations between smoke exposure and wellbeing (SF-8) or @entity458 (Kessler 6) were investigated with multiple linear regression or multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A high proportion of cohort members, especially females, were passive smokers at home and at public transport stations; males were more exposed at workplace and recreational places. We observed a social gradient with more passive smoking in poorer @entity1 . We also observed a dose response relationship linking graded smoke exposures (current, former, passive, non-exposed) to less wellbeing and more @entity458 (p-trend   <   0.001). Female smokers in general had less wellbeing and more distress. CONCLUSION: Our findings add to current knowledge on the impact of active and passive smoking on health in a transitional economy. Promotion of smoking cessation programs both in public and at home could also potentially reduce adverse disparities in health and wellbeing in middle and lower income settings such as Thailand.

Environmental XXXX smoke exposure and health disparities: 8-year longitudinal findings from a large cohort of Thai adults.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['people'] @entity286 :: ('4097', 'Species') :: ['tobacco'] @entity458 :: ('MESH:D020018', 'Disease') :: ['psychological distress'] @entity102 :: ('MESH:D002908', 'Disease') :: ['chronic diseases']
@entity286 :: (4097,Species) :: ['tobacco']
