Table 5

  Adjusted odds ratios for respiratory symptoms and physician consultations by number of smokers at home in males

1 smoker OR† (95% CI)2 smokers OR† (95% CI)3 smokers OR† (95% CI)⩾4 smokers OR† (95% CI)p for linear trend
*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
†Within each smoking category, the reference group is current smokers with no smoker at home; odds ratios are adjusted for age, marital status, educational attainment, police rank, type of police duties, exposure to self perceived dusty or polluted environment in previous job, and SHS exposure at work. Additional adjustment for amount of smoking and duration of smoking was made in current smokers, and for smoking status in the analysis of current smokers and never-smokers combined.
‡Western physicians and Chinese traditional doctors
§p for interaction for SHS exposure variables and smoking status. A significant p value indicates the significant difference in odds ratios between current smokers and never-smokers.
Throat problems
    Current smokers1.09(0.92 to 1.30)1.32(0.99 to 1.75)1.02(0.62 to 1.67)1.53(0.82 to 2.86)0.053
    Never-smokers0.97(0.79 to 1.20)0.82(0.56 to 1.21)1.44(0.84 to 2.47)1.16(0.60 to 2.25)0.739
    p for interaction§0.087<0.050.6290.425
Cough, morning
    Current smokers1.10(0.92 to 1.33)1.25(0.92 to 1.71)0.99(0.57 to 1.70)2.18*(1.16 to 4.09)<0.05
    Never-smokers1.02(0.78 to 1.34)1.28(0.81 to 2.00)2.18*(1.20 to 3.96)1.15(0.50 to 2.65)0.052
    p for interaction0.3600.7850.0850.170
Cough, day or night
    Current smokers1.14(0.95 to 1.38)1.54**(1.13 to 2.09)1.45(0.85 to 2.46)2.78***(1.49 to 5.21)<0.001
    Never-smokers1.08(0.82 to 1.41)1.25(0.79 to 1.97)1.94*(1.04 to 3.61)1.02(0.42 to 2.46)0.101
    p for interaction0.4000.2610.648<0.05
Cough, chronic
    Current smokers1.05(0.76 to 1.45)1.08(0.64 to 1.85)1.18(0.49 to 2.83)2.39*(1.02 to 5.61)0.151
    Never-smokers0.77(0.45 to 1.31)1.19(0.53 to 2.65)2.63*(1.09 to 6.36)1.73(0.52 to 5.76)0.152
    p for interaction0.2830.9720.2930.494
Phlegm, morning
    Current smokers1.17(0.98 to 1.40)1.47**(1.10 to 1.96)1.44(0.88 to 2.37)1.19(0.63 to 2.25)<0.01
    Never-smokers1.09(0.85 to 1.39)0.92(0.58 to 1.46)1.54(0.84 to 2.83)0.97(0.44 to 2.16)0.476
    p for interaction0.4300.0620.9720.475
Phlegm, day or night
    Current smokers1.19(0.99 to 1.43)1.36(1.00 to 1.84)1.64(0.98 to 2.74)1.17(0.59 to 2.31)<0.01
    Never-smokers0.99(0.75 to 1.32)0.87(0.50 to 1.49)2.07*(1.11 to 3.86)1.53(0.69 to 3.40)0.145
    p for interaction0.1050.0860.7250.896
Phlegm, chronic
    Current smokers1.08(0.84 to 1.38)1.04(0.68 to 1.60)0.91(0.43 to 1.97)1.19(0.51 to 2.78)0.704
    Never-smokers1.09(0.72 to 1.67)1.52(0.77 to 3.01)2.16(0.90 to 5.19)1.80(0.62 to 5.21)<0.05
    p for interaction0.5990.6920.3370.794
Any cough or phlegm
    Current smokers1.18(0.99 to 1.40)1.39*(1.05 to 1.85)1.18(0.72 to 1.93)1.53(0.80 to 2.89)<0.01
    Never-smokers1.08(0.88 to 1.34)1.08(0.74 to 1.58)1.50(0.87 to 2.60)0.87(0.42 to 1.78)0.348
    p for interaction0.2660.1830.6750.150
Increased cough or phlegm
    Current smokers1.04(0.85 to 1.27)1.10(0.79 to 1.53)0.72(0.38 to 1.35)1.84(0.96 to 3.51)0.365
    Never-smokers1.11(0.86 to 1.42)1.13(0.73 to 1.76)1.03(0.51 to 2.08)1.35(0.61 to 3.00)0.324
    p for interaction0.7800.8690.6160.398
Ever wheezing
    Current smokers1.13(0.88 to 1.45)1.35(0.92 to 1.98)1.22(0.62 to 2.38)1.15(0.47 to 2.79)0.149
    Never-smokers1.31(0.96 to 1.80)1.84*(1.13 to 3.00)1.44(0.64 to 3.25)1.25(0.44 to 3.57)<0.05
    p for interaction0.7520.4680.7080.922
Blocked or running nose
    Current smokers1.20*(1.02 to 1.43)1.38*(1.04 to 1.83)0.73(0.44 to 1.21)1.01(0.53 to 1.90)0.212
    Never-smokers1.12(0.92 to 1.37)1.00(0.70 to 1.44)1.31(0.76 to 2.25)2.02*(1.07 to 3.83)<0.05
    p for interaction0.3750.1130.1240.183
Any symptoms above
    Current smokers1.36**(1.12 to 1.66)1.29(0.93 to 1.80)1.19(0.67 to 2.10)1.25(0.60 to 2.60)<0.05
    Never-smokers1.14(0.93 to 1.40)1.07(0.75 to 1.54)1.18(0.66 to 2.08)1.51(0.73 to 3.10)0.128
    p for interaction0.1840.3810.9900.949
Physician consultations in past 14 days for respiratory symptoms‡
    Current smokers0.89(0.71 to 1.12)1.39(0.97 to 1.97)1.19(0.64 to 2.22)1.77(0.87 to 3.58)0.106
    Never-smokers1.16(0.90 to 1.49)0.95(0.59 to 1.54)0.92(0.44 to 1.89)2.17*(1.10 to 4.26)0.128
    p for interaction0.1650.1540.4050.648