Trends in the Prevalence of Current, Daily, and Nondaily Cigarette Smoking and Quit Ratios by Depression Status in the U.S.: 2005–2017

Introduction Cigarette smoking remains more common among individuals with depression. This study investigates whether cigarette quit ratios and cigarette use prevalence have changed differentially by depression status during the past decade. Methods National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2005–2017) were analyzed in 2019. Respondents aged ≥12 years were included in analyses of smoking prevalence (n=728,691) and respondents aged ≥26 years were included in analyses of quit ratio (n=131,412). Time trends in smoking prevalence (current, daily, and nondaily) and quit ratio (former/lifetime smokers) were estimated, stratified by past-year depression. Adjusted analyses controlled for demographics. Results Smoking prevalence was consistently higher among those with depression than those without depression. From 2005 to 2017, nondaily smoking did not significantly change among individuals with depression (9.25% to 9.40%; AOR=0.995, 95% CI=0.986, 1.005), whereas it decreased from 7.02% to 5.85% among those without depression (AOR=0.986, 95% CI=0.981, 0.990). By contrast, daily smoking declined among individuals with (25.21% to 15.11%; AOR=0.953, 95% CI=0.945, 0.962) and without depression (14.94% to 9.76%; AOR=0.970, 95% CI=0.967, 0.973). The quit ratio increased among individuals with (28.61% to 39.75%; AOR=1.036, 95% CI=1.021, 1.052) and without depression (47.65% to 53.09%; AOR=1.013, 95% CI=1.009, 1.017), yet quit ratios were consistently lower for those with depression than those without depression. Conclusions Quit ratios are increasing and smoking prevalence is decreasing overall, yet disparities by depression status remain significant. Disparities in quit ratio may be one contributing factor to the elevated prevalence of smoking among those with depression. Innovative tobacco control approaches for people with depression appear long overdue.