[The effects of smoking cessation related to COPD]

This article summarizes the effects of smoking cessation on the risk of morbidity and mortality related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and describes methods of achieving smoking abstinence in this group of patients. If smoking cessation occurs before the age of 30-35 years almost all of the excess risk of smoking can be avoided. There is convincing evidence that smoking cessation at all ages slows the otherwise accelerated lung function decline. Smokers with COPD should be offered more intensive and often repeated smoking cessation treatments, as they are likely to be more addicted to nicotine than healthy smokers.