Among patients who successfully quit smoking after an acute coronary syndrome, 82% stopped immediately after the event and remained abstinent through 1 year without extra support.
Observational (n=324)
Yes
Does a nurse-coordinated prevention program improve smoking cessation in smokers hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome?
The majority of successful long-term quitters stop smoking immediately after an acute coronary syndrome, suggesting that intensive relapse prevention programs may not be necessary for this specific subgroup.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines stress the importance of smoking cessation and recommend intensive follow-up. To guide the development of such cessation support strategies, we analysed the characteristics that are associated with successful smoking cessation after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We used data from the Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention for ACS patients coordinated by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists (RESPONSE) trial (n = 754). This was designed to quantify the impact of a nurse-coordinated prevention program, focusing on healthy lifestyles, traditional CVD risk factors and medication adherence. For the current analysis we included all smokers (324/754, 43 %). Successful quitters were defined as those who reported abstinence at 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: The majority of successful quitters quit immediately after the ACS event and remained abstinent through 1 year of follow-up, without extra support (128/156, 82 %). Higher education level (33 vs. 15 %, p < 0.01), no history of CVD (87 vs. 74 %, p < 0.01) and being on target for LDL-cholesterol level at 1 year (78 vs. 63 %, p < 0.01) were associated with successful quitting. CONCLUSION: The majority of successful quitters at 1 year stopped immediately after their ACS. Patients in this group showed that it was within their own ability to quit, and they did not relapse through 1 year of follow-up. Our study indicates that in a large group of patients who quit immediately after a life-threatening event, no relapse prevention program is needed.
Snaterse et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and Smoking (n=324). Immediate smoking cessation vs. Late cessation attempt or continued smoking was evaluated on Successful smoking cessation at 1 year. Among patients who successfully quit smoking after an acute coronary syndrome, 82% stopped immediately after the event and remained abstinent through 1 year without extra support.