030625en05010

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

June 25, 2003

Health

20% of SARS patients are smokers

Survey results show that about 20% of SARS patients were smokers.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong told the Legislative Council today that a department survey in May showed 210 (19.3%) of the responding patients were smokers.

Among the 1,088 SARS respondents, 275 (25.3%) were healthcare workers who were known to have a very low smoking prevalence.

After excluding healthcare workers, 25.2% of SARS patients aged 15 or above were smokers.

Based on the same survey of SARS patients, the mortality rate of smokers was 20%, but 9.7% for non-smokers.