Investigating the Prevalence Rate of Hookah Smoking and its Associated Risk Factors in Individuals Aged 35-70: Cohort Study First-Phase Results in Dena County

Background & aim: Hookah use not only affects the physical and mental health of the individual, but also the health of other members of society.Studies indicate that hookah use has increased across age and gender groups.The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hookah use and its associated factors in individuals aged 35 to 70 years. Methods:The present prospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on residents of Dena County, Iran, from 2016 to 2019.In the first phase of the study, 3630 people participated, and the data collected through experiments, questionnaires, and interviews were used in the registration phase of the Dena Cohort Study.This study is a population-based study and part of a prospective study that is being conducted in 18 regions of Iran.The collected data were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression statistical tests. Results:The study findings revealed that the prevalence rate of hookah use was 24% in total, which accounted for 28.30% and 18.3% in women and men, respectively (p<0.001).Over 24% of the study population similarly used to smoke cigarettes.The frequency of cigarette smoking in the male participants was 54.40%, which was higher than that in females(1.60%)(p<0.001).The logistic regression outcomes further indicated that the major sociodemographic risk factors contributing to hookah use in this region were the age range under 35, being divorced, unemployment, low educational attainment, low income, as well as chronic diseases like diabetes and depression. Conclusion:The prevalence rate of hookah smoking in the study population was found to be high.The present study correspondingly demonstrated that unemployment and low educational attainment were the most significant risk factors affecting hookah use.Additionally, the prevalence rate of hookah smoking was higher in low-income families.As a result, implementing interventions and preventive measures to deal with this complicated social problem was of utmost importance.