Introduction. Survival of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is variable determined by natural history of the disease, coexisting diseases and lifestyle.

Method. Aim of the study was to ascertain relation between regular cigarette smoking and life duration of MS patients in Poland. The study was performed in cohort of 11 666 MS patients (M – 4703, F – 6963), who died in the years 1982- 2011. Relation between annual, sex-adjusted prevalence rates of smoking in the general population and annual averages of male and female survival in MS in the years 1982-2011 was analysed in the study. Demographic data concerning deceased MS patients were obtained from the General Statistical Office. Information pertaining to prevalence of smoking in the general population was received from the Centre of Oncology and the Centre of Inquiry into the Public Opinion in Warsaw. Relations between variables were performed using test by Student or Pearson.

Results. Average duration of life in men and women with MS increased in Poland in 1997–2011 to 55.3 (SD 2.02) yr. and 56.1 (SD 1.65) yr. as compared to 52.2 (SD 1.14) and 52.7 (SD 1.52) yr. in 1982–1996; Student test: p<0.0001 and p<0.0002. Life span of men and women with MS improved on average by 7.5 yr. and 9.2 yr. Longer survival in MS men showed significant inverse association with lower prevalence of smoking in the Polish males; r = –0.775, p<0.0001. Improvement of survival in MS women did not correlate with prevalence of smoking among the Polish females: r = –0.225, p = 0.316. Regular smoking bore not, relation to MS female survival in Poland. 

Conclusions. Life duration of MS patients significantly increased during nearly 3 decades in Poland. Longer survival in MS males was inversely associated with lower prevalence of smoking in the Polish males. Longer life duration in MS women did not correlate with prevalence of smoking in the Polish women.