Smokers of all classes face same health risks

February 18, 2009 Typically, people with more financial power enjoy better health, but new research finds that smoking negates the benefits of social privilege.

Doctors in Scotland followed 15,000 people for more than 25 years and found smokers of all social classes had a much higher risk of premature death.

Being female also offered no extra protection, according to the study published online in the British Medical Journal.

But there is good news for those who have quit the habit: the former smokers had survival odds very close to participants who had never smoked.