Cessation of Smoking After Myocardial Infarction in Women Effects on Mortality and Reinfarctions1

Among 262 women with a first myocardial infarction discharged alive from hospital in Göteborg, Sweden between 1968 and 1977, 161 (61%) were smokers at the time of infarction. Postinfarction smoking was established after three months. In relation to smoking status three months after the infarction, subsequent survival and reinfarction rate were calculated by comparing those who smoked before infarction and later stopped (52%) with those who continued to smoke after the infarction (48%). There were no differences in preinfarction characteristics between quitters and continuing smokers. Women who stopped smoking after the infarction had higher serum enzymes during the acute phase than those who continued to smoke. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 85% among those who stopped smoking compared to 73% among those who continued to smoke (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was found in the cumulative reinfarction rate between the two groups with different smoking habits.