The Association Between Hookah Smoking and Musculoskeletal Conditions: Results From a Cohort Study in Southern Iran

 Smoking is known to have adverse effects on various human body systems. While previous studies have predominantly emphasized the harmful effects of smoking on other organs, the impact on the musculoskeletal system has been relatively understudied. This study aimed to survey the association between hookah smoking and musculoskeletal conditions.

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 4026 participants selected from baseline data of the Bandar-Kong non-communicable diseases (BKNCD) cohort study in southern Iran. Skeletal muscle injuries were identified through the medical questionnaire of the cohort based on the participants’ history, where “yes” denoted the presence of injuries and “no” indicated their absence. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software, version 26 at a significance level of P<0.05.

 Among the 4026 participants, 2315(57.5%) were women and 1711(42.5%) were men. The mean age of participants was 48±9 years. Among 709 hookah users, 20(2.83%) and 40(5.64%) cases suffered from movement disorders and osteoporosis, respectively. Also, 108(15.23%) and 284(40.05%) hookah users experienced back pain and joint pain, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of movement disorder was 2.38 times higher for hookah smokers than non-smokers (OR=2.38; P=0.002). There was no significant relationship between hookah smoking and other injuries (P>0.05).

 The most common problem was joint pain. The mechanism of the effect of smoking on injuries was unknown. Further studies, with larger sample sizes, are necessary to evaluate the association between hookah smoking and musculoskeletal injuries.