Association between Second-Hand Smoking and Laryngopathy in the General Population of South Korea

PURPOSE: The relationship between second-hand smoking and laryngopathy has not yet been reported. Thus, this study investigates the relationship between second-hand smoking and laryngopathy and suggests basic empirical data to prevent laryngopathy. METHODS: This study analyzed 1,905 non-smokers over the age of 19 (269 men and 1,636 women) who completed the health questionnaire, laryngeal endoscope test, and urine cotinine test in the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Second-hand smoking was defined as a urine cotinine concentration of 50ng/ml and over. Confounding factors included age, gender, education, household income, occupation, alcohol consumption, and coffee consumption. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were presented for the relationship between second-hand smoking and laryngopathy by using Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between second-hand smoking and laryngopathy (p<0.05). After all compounding factors were adjusted, non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoking had a 2.5 times (RR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.19–5.08) significantly higher risk of laryngopathy than non-smokers not exposed to second-hand smoking (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this epidemiological study, there was a significant relationship between second-hand smoking and laryngopathy. More effective anti-smoking policies are required to protect the health of both non-smokers and smokers.