At baseline, 7.7% of the 204,953 study participants reported being current smokers and 34.1% were past smokers. Of the 84,312 participants with relevant data, 81,179 (96%) smoked only cigarettes, 1,572 (2%) smoked only pipes/cigars, and 1,561 (2%) reported smoking both. The prevalence of smoking was similar in men and women. Compared to never-smokers, current smokers were, on average, younger, less likely to be urban residents, of lower income and education level, and less likely to hold private health insurance; they were more likely to report consuming ≥15 alcoholic drinks/week and to have a BMI <20 kg/m2 (Table 1).Table 1 Characteristics of participants in the study according to smoking status Smoking status Total Current Past Never Total15,76869,900119,285204,953Men7,625 (48%)37,335 (53%)45,251 (38%)90,211 (44%)Age 45–64 years12,951 (82%)45,107 (65%)79,667 (67%)137,725 (67%) 65–79 years2,443 (15%)19,378 (28%)29,913 (25%)51,734 (25%) ≥80 years374 (2%)5,415 (8%)9,705 (8%)15,494 (8%)Residing in Major Cities6,428 (41%)30,103 (43%)55,300 (46%)91,831 (45%)University degree2,209 (14%)15,300 (22%)32,721 (27%)50,230 (25%)Household income ≥ $70,0002,789 (18%)18,218 (26%)33,195 (28%)54,202 (26%)Private health insurance6,714 (43%)45,066 (64%)84,007 (70%)135,787 (66%)≥15 alcoholic drinks/week3,762 (24%)15,685 (22%)9,699 (8%)29,146 (14%)Highest physical activity tertile5,278 (33%)25,475 (36%)39,044 (33%)69,797 (34%)Born in Australia11,714 (74%)50,845 (73%)90,477 (76%)153,036 (75%)Body mass index<20 kg/m2 1,011 (6%)1,848 (3%)4,711 (4%)7,570 (4%)≥30 kg/m2 3,084 (20%)16,160 (23%)22,618 (19%)41,862 (20%)
