Asma e a nova lei do tabaco. O que mudou?

 

Ágata Areias¹

João Duarte¹

Joana Figueiredo¹

Rita Lucas¹

Inês Matos¹

João Pires¹

Ana Glória Fonseca²

José Luís Castanheira³

 

Resumo

Em Janeiro 2008, foi implementada, em Portugal, uma nova medida legislativa que condiciona o consumo de tabaco em espaços colectivos fechados. Como a exposição passiva ao fumo do tabaco provoca a exacerbação dos sintomas de asma, tornou-se pertinente conhecer a percepção dos doentes asmáticos sobre as repercussões desta nova lei no seu bem-estar. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal, numa amostra de conveniência, constituída por 96 doentes asmáticos da consulta de Pneumologia do Hospital Pulido Valente e do Hospital de Santa Marta, de Lisboa. Os dados foram recolhidos a partir de um questionário padronizado com respostas voluntárias, anónimas e confidenciais. Para tratamento estatístico recorreu-se ao programa Epi InfoTM e foi aplicado o teste qui-quadrado para análise dos resultados (á=5%). Dos doentes inquiridos, a percentagem dos que estiveram expostos a fumo de tabaco até Dezembro 2007 foi de 67,7%, com maior prevalência no grupo de indivíduos activos. Apesar de a maioria dos inquiridos não referir alterações no seu bem-estar, 39,6% referiu alterações positivas (melhoria na realização de actividades diárias, diminuição dos sintomas ou menor necessidade de recorrer a medicação SOS). Destes indivíduos, que indicaram alterações positivas, 81,6% deixaram de estar expostos após entrada da nova lei e 65,8% indicaram-na como factor responsável. Os resultados deste estudo, apenas dois meses após a implementação legal, reforçam a importância da aplicação de medidas legais eficazes que evitem a exposição ao fumo de tabaco, como forma de redução da exacerbação dos sintomas e de melhoria do bem-estar dos doentes asmáticos.

Palavras-chave: Asma, tabaco, exposição, fumo, fumo passivo, lei.

 

Asthma and the new anti-smoking legislation. What has changed?

Abstract

January 2008 saw new legislation implanted in Portugal restricting smoking in closed public spaces. As second-hand smoke worsens asthma symptoms, it is important to understand how asthma patients feel this new legislation impacts on their well-being. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a convenience sample formed of 96 asthma patients who had Pulmonology appointments at the Pulido Valente and Santa Marta Hospitals. All data was collected from a standardised questionnaire with volunteer, anonymous and confidential answers. Epi InfoTM software was used for statistical processing purposes, and the results analysed using the chi-squared test (á=5%). 67.7% of the patients polled were exposed to secondhand smoke until December 2007, with a higher percentage in those currently in work. A considerable percentage (39.6%) described positive changes (measured by improved performance of daily life activities, decrease in symptoms or lesser recourse to SOS medication), even though the majority did not recognise any improvement. 81.6% of those who noted positive changes said they were no longer exposed to second-hand smoke with the passing of the new legislation, and 65.8% stated that the smoking ban was the factor responsible for those changes. These results, only two months after the implementation of the legislative ban on smoking in public spaces, underline the importance of approving effective measures to create and enforce smoke-free environments, reducing worsening of symptoms and improving asthma patients’ well-being.

Key-words: Asthma, tobacco, exposure, smoke, second-hand smoke, legislation.

 

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text only available in PDF format.

 

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¹ Aluno do 6.º ano do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa / 6th year medical students, Public Health Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon.

² Docente convidada do Departamento Universitário de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa / Guest Professor of University Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon

³ Coordenador do Departamento Universitário de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa / Coordinator of the University Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon

 

Departamento Universitário de Saúde Pública

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

 

Correspondência:

Departamento Universitário de Saúde Pública

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Lisboa

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130

1169-056 Lisboa

 

Recebido para publicação/received for publication: 08.05.08

Aceite para publicação/accepted for publication: 08.09.12