Evaluating the impact of a prison smoking ban on the cardiovascular health of men in a UK prison
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 14 June 2022
Issue publication date: 5 September 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Smoking rates are known to be higher amongst those committed to prison than the general population. Those in prison suffer from high rates of comorbidities that are likely to increase their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it more difficult to manage. In 2016, a tobacco ban began to be implemented across prisons in England and Wales, UK. This study aims to measure the effect of the tobacco ban on predicted cardiovascular risk for those quitting smoking on admission to prison.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from a prevalence study of CVD in prisons, the authors have assessed the effect of the tobacco ban on cardiovascular risk, using predicted age to CVD event, ten-year CVD risk and heart age, for those who previously smoked and gave up on admission to prison.
Findings
The results demonstrate measurable health gains across all age groups with the greatest gains found in those aged 50 years and older and who had been heavy smokers. Quitting smoking on admission to prison led to a reduced heart age of between two and seven years for all participants.
Originality/value
The data supports tobacco bans in prisons as a public health measure to reduce risk of CVD. Interventions are needed to encourage maintenance of smoking cessation on release from prison for the full health benefits to be realised.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the staff at HMP and YOI Parc, namely, Ian Coles, Clare Frost, Rosemarie Marnell, Louise Morris, Daniel Tomkins and Scott Threadgold. The authors would also like to thank Elizabeth Allen at HMPPS in Wales and their colleagues from Public Health Wales who volunteered their time to assist with the data collection.Funding: This work was supported by funding received through the Public Health Wales Pump-Prime research scheme.
Citation
Perrett, S.E., Craddock, C., Dunseath, G., Shankar, G., Luzio, S. and Gray, B.J. (2023), "Evaluating the impact of a prison smoking ban on the cardiovascular health of men in a UK prison", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 340-349. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-02-2022-0012
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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