[Smoking cessation in patients with stable or unstable ischemic heart disease]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between severity of disease and smoking cessation in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Patients admitted to hospital with IHD, who were current smokers, entered the study. Patients were grouped as either stable or unstable IHD (unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction). All patients received identical information on smoking and IHD. After three months patients were interviewed about present smoking habits. In 42 patients a carbonmonoxide-haemoglobin (CO-hgb) test was done to evaluate the reliability of the answers. One hundred and five patients entered the study; 67 patients in the unstable group and 38 in the stable group. At follow-up 39% of patients in the unstable group had stopped smoking compared to only 13% in the stable group (p < 0.05). Two patients who claimed to be ex-smokers had CO-hgb-values indicating current smoking. We conclude that smoking cessation in patients with IHD seems to be dependent on the severity of IHD.