A retrospective review of pilot outcomes from an out-patient tobacco treatment programme within cardiology services

Due to the challenging nature of tobacco addiction, individuals with cardiac conditions often continue to smoke at high rates (up to 62%), even after experiencing life-threatening events. Aims: This study examines pilot outcomes of a longitudinal Smoking Cessation Clinic (SCC) within cardiology services. Methods: This study is based on a retrospective review of the charts of 117 participants of the SCC (between September 2010 and May 2012). The main outcome of interest is self-reported 7-day point-prevalence of smoking abstinence verified by expired CO level. A secondary outcome was smoking reduction, defined as consuming 50% (or lower) than the baseline number cigarettes in the past week. Results: Thirty-five per cent of participants achieved smoking cessation, whereas 42.1% reduced their cigarette consumption. In multivariate regression analyses, salient predictors of smoking cessation included being male and a greater length of visiting the smoking cessation clinic. Conclusions: Providing evidence-based approaches to tobacco treatment within cardiology services is feasible and well received by patients with cardiac and other co-morbidity. The modest outcomes from this pilot study support the need for tobacco treatment in hospital cardiology settings. Such interventions may aid in reducing the disproportionate burden of tobacco-related disease among smokers with medical co-morbidity.