http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/golfers-elbow/basics/risk-factors/con-20027964 says:
You could be at higher risk of developing golfer's elbow if you're:
- Age 40 or older
- Performing repetitive activity at least two hours a day
- Obese
- A smoker
Why would smoking increase the risk of developing medial epicondylitis?
Note that the claim itself seems to be debated in some studies, e.g.:
Otoshi, Kenichi, Misa Takegami, Miho Sekiguchi, Yoshihiro Onishi, Shin Yamazaki, Koji Otani, Hiroaki Shishido, Shunichi Fukuhara, Shinichi Kikuchi, and Shinichi Konno. "Chronic hyperglycemia increases the risk of lateral epicondylitis: the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcome in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS)." SpringerPlus 4, no. 1 (2015): 1-9.
Age and sex, as well as occupational status, smoking and alcohol preference, and other medical characteristics showed no significant association with higher risk of lateral epicondylitis.