Risk factors for continued cigarette use after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Few studies have examined predictors of resumption of cigarette smoking after a first episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Of 620 SAH patients treated between July 1996 and November 2002, we prospectively evaluated continued cigarette use in 152 smokers alive at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify potential demographic, social, and clinical predictors of continued cigarette use, defined as smoking > or =1 cigarette per week in the month before follow-up.

Thirty-seven percent (56 of 152) resumed smoking after their SAH. Patients who continued smoking were younger, were more often black, had begun smoking at an earlier age, and had a higher frequency of prior alcohol or cocaine use and self-reported depression or anxiety than those who quit (all P<0.05). Smoking at < or =16 years of age (odds ratio [OR], 5.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33 to 14.29), self-reported depression (OR, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.10 to 13.35), and prior alcohol use (OR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.45 to 14.05) independently predicted continued cigarette use. Smokers had a functional outcome similar to that of nonsmokers at 3 months but were more likely to resume alcohol consumption (OR, 3.88; 95% CI, 1.91 to 7.88).

More than one third of prior smokers continue to use nicotine after SAH. Young age at smoking onset and a history of depression or alcohol use are risk factors for continued cigarette use. Targeted smoking cessation programs are needed to reduce the high rate of smoking resumption after SAH.