Fewer Hospitalizations for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Communities With Smoke-Free Public Policies.

OBSTRUCTIVE lung disease diagnosis; PASSIVE smoking -- Law & legislation; DISEASE exacerbation; COMPARATIVE studies; CONFIDENCE intervals; HOSPITAL care; MAPS; POISSON distribution; PUBLIC spaces; RESEARCH funding; RESIDENTIAL patterns; DISCHARGE planning; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ODDS ratio; PREVENTION

Objectives. We determined the impact of smoke-free municipal public policies on hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of hospital discharges with a primary diagnosis of COPD in Kentucky between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2011 using Poisson regression. We compared the hospitalization rates of regions with and without smoke-free laws, adjusting for personal and population covariates, seasonality, secular trends overtime, and geographic region. Results. Controlling for covariates such as sex, age, length of stay, race/ ethnicity, education, income, and urban-rural status, among others, we found that those living in a community with a comprehensive smoke-free law or regulation were 22% less likely to experience hospitalizations for COPD than those living in a community with a moderate-weak law or no law. Those living in a community with an established law were 21% less likely to be hospitalized for COPD than those with newer laws or no laws. Conclusions. Strong smoke-free public policies may provide protection against COPD hospitalizations, particularly after 12 months, with the potential to save lives and decrease health care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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