Can quitting smoking reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events?
Quitting smoking after being diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease could be linked to a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024.
In a study, investigators analyzed the outcomes of more than 32,000 patients with stable coronary artery disease, according to a news release from the European Society of Cardiology. The patients were categorized into three groups based on their smoking status: never-smokers, former smokers and current smokers.
The investigators found that quitting smoking following diagnosis was associated with a 44% decrease in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events — including cardiovascular death and heart attacks — over a period of five years. However, reducing smoking had a minimal impact on the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with those who continued smoking without changing their habits.
Despite the significant reduction in cardiovascular risk, former smokers were unable to achieve comparable rates of major adverse cardiovascular events to never-smokers.
The investigators concluded that smokers diagnosed with stable coronary artery disease should consider smoking cessation strategies such as counseling, behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy.
Read more: ESC Congress 2024
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