Original Article

Year : 2019 | Volume : 3 | Issue : 1 | Page : 23 - 29

Assessment of Urinary Cotinine Level among Smokers in Chennai

Maheswari Elumalai

Sarvesh Dental Clinic, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Maheswari Elumalai,

Public Health Dentist and Implantologist, Private Practioner,

Sarvesh Dental Clinic, Mogappair (W), Chennai-37, India.

E‐mail: e.maheswari00@gmail.com

Abstract

Introduction:

Tobacco use in India is characterized by a high prevalence of smoking and smokeless tobacco use, with dual use also contributing a noticeable proportion. Cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, is commonly used as a biomarker for the evaluation of smoking, as well as the exposure to tobacco smoke and passive smoking. Urinary excretion of cotinine is a good marker as it is less influenced by the flow of urine and pH. Cotinine quantification thus provides an objective quantitative measure which is more reliable than the smoking history or counting the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to assess the urinary coitinine level and to correlate with the level of tobacco dependence among smokers.

Materials and Methods:

It is a cross‐sectional study conducted among company employees, Chennai. Sample size n = 44. Study subjects with age group between 20 and 55 years with a habit of smoking for a period of 2 years were included in the study. First section includes the collection of demographic information such as name, age, gender, occupation, and marital status. The second section comprises questionnaire to assess about duration of tobacco usage, reason for tobacco usage, and Fagestron nicotine dependence scale were used to assess the level of dependence of study participant. The third section includes a collection of urine samples. Urine samples are to be collected in empty plastic sterile containers. Subject code to be marked in the sterile container. It is frozen at 20°C. The coitinine content was assessed using COT rapid test caseette.

Results:

The mean age and smoking duration of study subjects were 28.8 years and 6.6 years. About 34 (77.3%) of study subjects belong to the age group of 20–30 years. In 20–30‐year age group, 75% (33) and 2.3% (1) belong to skilled and semi‐skilled worker. About 2.3% of 51–60‐year age group of participant belong to skilled worker. Low nicotine dependence level was found in 40.9% (18), 13.6% (6), and 4.5% (1) of study participants. Urinary coitinine level was found to be more than 200 ng among all study participants. It shows the chronic nature of smoking habit of study subjects.

Conclusion:

Urinary coitinine level was found to be positive among smokers. Smoking habit has a negative effect on oral as well as on general health. Hence, Tobacco control policies in India should adopt a targeted, population‐based approach to control and reduce tobacco consumption in the country.

Keywords: Cigarette, coitinine, skilled worker, smokers, tobacco dependence, urine

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Elumalai M. Assessment of urinary cotinine level among smokers in Chennai. Int J Orofac Biol 2019;3:23-9.