Smoking and survival in centenarians

Pubmed ^ | May 2004 | Cicconetti P, Tafaro L, Tedeschi G, Tombolillo MT, Ursino R, Marigliano V.

[qam1]

PING

I would really like to know what the smoking rates of this generation was to begin with. Being that they lived through World War I torn Italy I am sure it's quite low.

[TheOldRepublic]

"What this country needs is a good five cent cigar."
U.S. Vice President Thomas Riley Marshall in 1917.

"Monica, hand me that cigar would ya?"
Bill Clinton 1996

[Mears]

Who the hell wants to live that long? I know I don't.

That generation would be my parents' generation and more men smoked than women.I had 2 aunts that smoked and they both lived to the mid eighties.

[SheLion]

LOL! I guess if we didn't smoke, we would live forever? heheh!

[dennisw]

I detest even second hand smoke. But I'm not a fool. My father is 90 and smoked most of life, though not for the last 10 years. I see little wrong with him that be pinned on smoking.

He didn't smoke just cigarettes. Much (most?) of it was cigars and pipes.

[William Terrell]

If you don't smoke, you'll live forever.

[SheLion]

I detest even second hand smoke. But I'm not a fool. My father is 90 and smoked most of life, though not for the last 10 years. I see little wrong with him that be pinned on smoking.

My grandmother smoked three packs of non-filtered Camels a day and died of old age - 86.

[qam1]

[Smoking]compromises life expectancy even in extreme longevity.

HUH?

[qam1]

My father is 90 and smoked most of life, though not for the last 10 years. I see little wrong with him that be pinned on smoking.

Well according to the Antis, His death and when these centenarians die are all premature deaths due to smoking.

[tdadams]

Who the hell wants to live that long? I know I don't.

If I was an invalid, no. But if I was healthy and active like some people are at that age, you bet I want to live that long, or longer.

[Drammach]

This means nothing.. it is junk science...

[tdadams]

I enjoy cigars frequently and a pipe once in a while. Yet I've never so much as touched a cigarette and always encourage people to stop smoking cigarettes.

Some people see this as contradictory. I don't because there's a world of difference between cigars and cigarettes; in purpose, in health consequences, and addictiveness.

[Hardastarboard]

The little bit of scientific and statistical background I have forces me to jump in here. This study is a joke, right? Read the following sentences carefully.

Statistically significant higher prevalence of diseases illnesses were noted among centenarian smokers over the age of 65 (p < 0.02).

Centenarian smokers are by definition over 65. HELLO? Department of Redundancy Department callling.

Moreover Cox's regression has shown in centenarians a lower survival rate (p < 0.05) in smokers than in non-smokers.

OK, who cares how much longer you live after one hundred anyway? Not that the above is bad science, but the extra longevity can't be significant, nor of a particularly high quality. It's not like these people have been cheated out of a couple of years of night clubbing, tom-catting around, and doing wheelies through parking lots on Ducati sport bikes.

In conclusion, our study is evidence that smoking is for all, but some exceptional subjects, incompatible with successful aging and compromises life expectancy even in extreme longevity.

See my comments above. This study was a waste of money. They're looking at life on the fringes. It's almost like saying, "Infants have a lower level of job satisfaction than college graduates". Duh.

[dennisw]

FWIW ...... I like don't mind pipe and cigar smoke as much as cigarette smoke. When "found" 500+ years ago, the Indians never got the quick rush from cigarettes. They smoked cigars and pipes to the best of my knowledge.

[SheLion]

It's almost like saying, "Infants have a lower level of job satisfaction than college graduates". Duh.

Heheh!

[Publius6961]

This is hilarious, and I am totally perplexed that the obvious connection was totally ignored. No. I am not surprised at all.

The "scientists" presenting this study failed (miserably) to address the one fly in their "useful idiots" ointment:

Of the 10 confirmed longest-lived people in history, nine of them smoked until age 100.
Does this prove that smoking is good for you? Not at all. I am just amused that facts embarrassing to the "researchers" are conveniently ignored or deemed inconsequential. I am not at all surprised.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Eubie Blake on his 100th birthday: "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would of taken better care of myself."

Satchmo, in response to question about "what was wrong with" a bandmember who died suddenly, "Man, when you dead, everything's wrong with you."

[Little Bill]

My Great Uncle John smoked until the day he died at 107, same for my maternal Grand Father, and he was gassed in WW1, 87. I think allot of longevity is genetic.

[VOA]

bump