The role of smoking in Crohn's disease as defined by clinical variables

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 52; no. 11; pp. 2897 - 2903
• Main Authors: MAHID, Suhal S, MINOR, Kyle S, STEVENS, Patrick L, GALANDIUK, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.11.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age of Onset; Biological and medical sciences; Crohn Disease - classification; Crohn Disease - epidemiology; Crohn Disease - etiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Global Health; Humans; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Tobacco smoking; Metabolic diseases; Crohn's disease; Inflammatory disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn disease; Vienna classification; Classification; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Diagnosis; Ulcerative colitis; Smoking
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-006-9624-0

The development of Crohn's disease (CD) is related to an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, with tobacco smoking being one of the most commonly studied environmental factors. In 1998, the Vienna classification was created to define CD by using three accepted clinical variables: age at diagnosis, disease behavior, and disease location. In this qualitative systematic review, articles examining the relationship between smoking and CD, using variables outlined in the Vienna classification, were identified utilizing multiple health databases. Current smoking was found to be associated with late-onset CD (> or =40 years old) and current smokers were more likely to progress to stricturing or penetrating type CD than were nonsmoking patients. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the relationship between smoking with respect to CD disease location. The Vienna classification is an important tool in permitting comparisons and predicting clinical course among CD cases, especially when smoking status is taken into account.