Tobacco consumption and tobacco-related diseases: gender differences with a comparison between two European countries.

Tobacco consumption and its consequences on health affect men more than women. Among young people however there is evidence of a trend of more girls than youths taking up smoking.In animals (rats and mice), males have higher densities of nicotine repectors, among humans, women seem to be less discriminating in their nicotine intake than men, and regulate their nicotine concentrations less precisely. Women smoke more than men in response to negative effects and weight concerns, and the association between smoking and depression seem to be stronger for women. Quitting seems to be more difficult for women and often they compensate by making more frequent attempts.The age and gender distribution of the Swedish and Austrian population are very similar. Sweden has the lowest male smoking prevalence in Europe (16% daily) and Austria has a high smoking male prevalence (32%). Lung cancer mortality rates attributed to smoking are lower in Swedish men than in Austrian men. The difference in prevalence between Swedish women (22%) and Austrian women (26%) is not so great and the similar rates of mortality from lung cancer reflect this. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]