Key result
EUROACTION program with optional varenicline increases 16-week smoking abstinence odds by ~352% vs usual care.
Why the study?
The study evaluated whether a nurse-led preventive cardiology programme offering intensive smoking cessation plus optional varenicline reduces overall cardiovascular risk compared with usual care in high CVD risk persistent smokers.
Does a nurse-led preventive cardiology programme with optional varenicline improve smoking abstinence in high CVD risk persistent smokers?
Comparison
EUROACTION PLUS preventive cardiology programme vs usual care
Design
Parallel group randomized controlled trial
Follow-up
16 weeks
Authors
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Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“We started this study because the first EUROACTION study was not successful in terms of smoking cessation. We included a specially designed smoking-cessation program with the option of using varenicline, which, for the time being, has been shown to have the best effect in terms of smoking cessation. The results are similar to the other clinical trials with varenicline, but the advantage of EUROACTION PLUS is that we actually showed this can be done in everyday clinical practice.”
“On their own, patients struggle and don't do well. Providing support and follow-up by dieticians, nurses and physiotherapists, made a big difference in helping patients reach their goals. Our team used behavioral techniques and expert advice to address individuals' particular problems and personal challenges as they tried to follow prescribed treatment.”
“There is an urgent need to raise the standard of secondary prevention.”
Supports nurse-led cessation programs with optional varenicline in high-risk primary care; extends EUROACTION evidence to include pharmacotherapy.
RCT (n=696)
parallel group
Yes
Does a nurse-led preventive cardiology programme with optional varenicline improve smoking abstinence in high CVD risk persistent smokers?
Odds Ratio: 4.52 (95% CI 3.2–6.39)
Absolute Event Rate: 51% vs 19%
A nurse-led preventive cardiology program with optional varenicline significantly increased smoking abstinence and improved diet, physical activity, and blood pressure control in high-risk smokers compared to usual care.
Jennings et al. (2014) conducted an RCT in high CVD risk persistent smokers (n=696). EUROACTION preventive cardiology programme PLUS optional varenicline vs. usual care was evaluated on 7 day point prevalence of self-reported abstinence (validated breath carbon monoxide <10 p.p.m.) at 16 weeks (OR 4.52, 95% CI 3.20-6.39). The EUROACTION preventive cardiology programme with optional varenicline significantly increased 16-week smoking abstinence compared to usual care (51% vs 19%; OR 4.52, 95% CI 3.20-6.39).
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