Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz
Public Health and Governance, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2009, pp. 44 - 48
Background: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors. Persisting smoking after an coronary event is related to significantly higher risk of the future cardiovascular complications. Studies performed in late nineties showed that a considerable percentage of patients continue with smoking after an coronary event. The aim of the present paper was to compare smoking rates in coronary patients in the post-discharge period in Krakow in 1997/1998, 1999/2000 and 2006/2007.
Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized from July 1, 1996 to September 31, 1997 (first survey), from March 1, 1998 to March 30, 1999 (second survey), and from April 1, 2005 to July 31, 2006 (third survey) due to acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina or for myocardial revascularization procedures, below the age of < 71 years were identified and then followed up, interviewed and examined 6–18 months after discharge. Self-reported smoking and breath carbon monoxide was analysed.
Results: The number of patients who participated in the follow-up examinations were: 418 (78.0%) in the first survey, 427 (82.9%) in the second and 427 (79.1%) in the third survey. There was no significant change in smoking (self-reported) rates (16% vs 16% vs 19%; p = NS). When breath carbon monoxide was also analysed once again the difference did not reach significance (18% in 1999–2000 and 23% in 2006–2007; p = NS). Nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion or varenicline were also not used (0% vs 0.2% vs 0.5%; p = NS).
Conclusion: The smoking rate in coronary patients over the decade from 1997/1998 to 2006/2007 did not changed significantly. The pharmacotherapy for smoking is almost not used in coronary patients.