2024년 지역사회건강조사 자료를 이용한 우리나라 40세 이상 성인의 간접흡연 노출과 주관적 인지 저하와의 관련성

Association of Secondhand Smoke Exposure With Subjective Cognitive Decline Among Korean Adults Aged 40 Years and Older: Findings from the 2024 Korea Community Health Survey

This study investigated the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) among non-smoking adults aged 40 years and older using data from the 2024 Korea Community Health Survey. SHS exposure was assessed based on self-reported exposure at home and in the workplace, and SCD was measured through self-perceived deterioration in memory and cognitive functioning. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. The findings showed that SHS exposure in both home and workplace environments was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of SCD, with home exposure showing an odds ratio OR of 1.206 (95% CI: 1.075-1.354) and workplace exposure an OR of 1.337 (95% CI: 1.245-1.437). Notably, workplace exposure demonstrated a stronger association, suggesting that prolonged or repeated exposure in occupational settings may exert a greater negative influence on cognitive health. These results underscore the importance of strengthening smoke-free policies, enhancing public health education, and promoting smoke-free environments in both domestic and occupational contexts. Given that SCD may serve as an early indicator of cognitive impairment, reducing SHS exposure may inform in early prevention strategies. Further longitudinal studies incorporating objective cognitive assessments and biomarker-based exposure measurements are warranted to clarify causal pathways.