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Updated: May 25, 2026
06:07
Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Smoking cessation in older adults.
E Jeremias1, J M Chatkin, G Chatkin
1Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Summary
It is never too late to quit smoking. Older smokers (≥60) achieved similar smoking cessation rates to younger smokers (<60) when receiving standard treatment. This challenges the notion that age is a barrier to quitting.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Gerontology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Older smokers are often discouraged from quitting due to misconceptions about age-related efficacy of interventions.
- This study addresses the erroneous belief that it is too late for older individuals to successfully quit smoking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare smoking cessation rates between older (≥60 years) and younger (<60 years) adult smokers.
- To determine if advanced age is a significant obstacle to successful smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 987 smokers received standardized behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy at a Brazilian smoking cessation clinic.
- Participants were categorized into two age groups: <60 years and ≥60 years.
- Smoking abstinence was verified via exhaled carbon monoxide levels (<10 ppm) at 2, 6, and 12 months post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Abstinence rates at 12 months were 43.5% for younger smokers and 53.3% for older smokers.
- The difference in quit rates between age groups was not statistically significant (P=0.073 via log rank test; adjusted Hazard Ratio 0.90, P=0.48 via Cox regression).
- Older smokers demonstrated comparable success in quitting smoking to their younger counterparts.
Conclusions:
- Smoking cessation interventions are effective in older adults, yielding similar abstinence rates to younger individuals.
- These findings support the integration of smoking cessation programs for all age groups, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- Age should not be considered a barrier to smoking cessation treatment.
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