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Smoking cessation after PCI added over 2 years to patients’ lives
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Patients who quit smoking after undergoing PCI in the 1980s gained an average of 2.1 years of life compared with patients who continued to smoke.
In the 30-year, single-center study, researchers looked at smoking cessation in patients following PCI to determine prolonged life-years gained. Smoking status was self-reported by the patients.
Researchers looked at data from 856 patients who underwent PCI from September 1980 to December 1985 at a single center in The Netherlands. Twenty-seven patients died within the first year of undergoing PCI and 22 patients did not have a clear smoking status available; all of these patients were excluded from the study. Patients (mean age, 56.2 years; 80% male) were followed for up to 30 years, with a mean follow-up time of 19.5 years.
Patients who quit smoking had a cumulative 30-year survival rate of 29% compared with 14% for patients who continued to smoke. Estimated life expectancy after PCI was 2.1 years longer for patients who quit smoking compared with patients who were persistent smokers (18.5 years vs. 16.4 years; P<.0001).
In interpreting these results, the researchers wrote it is important to keep in mind that this patient population was treated with balloon angioplasty only. Added to which, improvements in supportive medical care have been made since the patients were treated in the 1980s.
Nevertheless, “With our results (the quantification of prolonged life-years), physicians have an additional tool to encourage and convince patients to stop smoking,” they wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
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Carl J. Pepine, MD, MACC
It is known that smoking limits the potential health benefits of many therapies. This interesting observational study from Holland suggests life expectancy after plain old balloon angioplasty may be about 2 years longer for patients who quit smoking vs. patients who continued to smoke. Similarly, former smokers had fewer physical limitations, less angina and better quality of life than current smokers.Perhaps we can use this new information when counseling our patients. They need to know that smokers can, and do, quit smoking. There are now more former smokers than current smokers in the United States (cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics). While the United States has made great strides in this respect, we can do better! Our patients who smoke, or have smokers in their household, should also know that the government provides an array of free support services. One that I can recommend to patients is 1-800-QUIT NOW. Clearly, our patients need to know that freedom from nicotine dependence is not the only reason to quit smoking.
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