Stopping smoking and long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

J T Salonen

A prospective follow-up study was carried out to investigate the relation between smoking and risk of death after an acute myocardial infarction. The study consisted of male patients under the age of 65 years, who had had an acute myocardial infarction between 1972 and 1975 in North Karelia, Finland. Of these patients, 888 survived the first six months after the acute infarction and were followed-up for three years after the infarction with regard to their deaths. The cumulative all-causes mortality rate of the patients who were still smoking six months after the acute myocardial infarction was 1.7 times that of the patients who had stopped smoking within the first six months. There was a dose-response relation between the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the mortality. The impact of smoking was greatest in the subgroups of patients with an otherwise good prognosis. We estimated that 28 per cent of the deaths in the whole group of initial smokers was attributable to continuing smoking after the infarction. On the basis of these findings we suggest that the anti-smoking advice should be an important part of the modern comprehensive care of patients with an acute myocardial infarction.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Trockel, M., Burg, M., Jaffe, A., Barbour, K., Taylor, C. B. (2008). Smoking Behavior Postmyocardial Infarction Among ENRICHD Trial Participants: Cognitive Behavior Therapy Intervention for Depression and Low Perceived Social Support Compared With Care as Usual. Psychosom. Med. 70: 875-882 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Goldenberg, I., Jonas, M., Tenenbaum, A., Boyko, V., Matetzky, S., Shotan, A., Behar, S., Reicher-Reiss, H. (2003). Current Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Arch Intern Med 163: 2301-2305 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Critchley, J. A., Capewell, S. (2003). Mortality Risk Reduction Associated With Smoking Cessation in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review. JAMA 290: 86-97 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rea, T. D., Heckbert, S. R., Kaplan, R. C., Smith, N. L., Lemaitre, R. N., Psaty, B. M. (2002). Smoking Status and Risk for Recurrent Coronary Events after Myocardial Infarction. ANN INTERN MED 137: 494-500 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Wilson, K., Gibson, N., Willan, A., Cook, D. (2000). Effect of Smoking Cessation on Mortality After Myocardial Infarction: Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies. Arch Intern Med 160: 939-944 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Van Berkel, T.F.M., Boersma, H., Roos-Hesselink, J.W., Erdman, R.A.M., Simoons, M.L. (1999). Impact of smoking cessation and smoking interventions in patients with coronary heart disease. Eur Heart J 20: 1773-1782  
• RICHMOND, R (1999). Opening the window of opportunity: encouraging patients to stop smoking. Heart 81: 456-458 [Full Text]  
• Siegel, D., Grady, D., Browner, W. S., Hulley, S. B. (1988). Risk Factor Modification after Myocardial Infarction. ANN INTERN MED 109: 213-218 [Abstract]  
• Vlietstra, R. E., Kronmal, R. A., Oberman, A., Frye, R. L., Killip, T. III (1986). Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Survival of Patients With Angiographically Documented Coronary Artery Disease: Report From the CASS Registry. JAMA 255: 1023-1027 [Abstract]  
• Salonen, J. T., Hamynen, H., Heinonen, O. P. (1985). Impact of a Health Education Program and Other Factors on Stopping Smoking after Heart Attack. Scand J Public Health 13: 103-108 [Abstract]  
• Kottke, T. E., Feldman, R. D., Albert, D. A. (1984). The Risk Ratio Is Insufficient for Clinical Decisions: The Case of Prophylactic Cholecystectomy. Med Decis Making 4: 177-194