Smoking Cessation After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Relation to Depression and Personality Factors

Smoking is an important cardiovascular risk factor and smoking cessation should be a primary target in secondary prevention after a myocardial infarction (MI).

The purpose of this study was to examine whether personality, coping and depression were related to smoking cessation after an MI.

MI patients ≤70 years (n = 323, 73 % men, 58.7 ± 8.3 years), participating in the Secondary Prevention and Compliance following Acute Myocardial Infarction study in Malmö, Sweden, between 2002 and 2005, were interviewed by a psychologist to assess coping strategies and completed Beck Depression and NEO Personality Inventories, in close proximity to the acute event. Correlation between smoking status (current, former and never), personality factors, coping and depression was assessed at baseline and 24 months after the MI using logistic regression and in a multivariate analysis, adjusting for age and sex.

Of the participating patients, 46 % were current smokers. Two years after the event, 44 % of these were still smoking. At baseline, current smokers scored higher on the depression and neuroticism scales and had lower agreeableness scores. Patients who continued to smoke after 2 years had higher scores on being confrontational (i.e. confrontative coping style) compared to those who had managed to quit. Patients who continued to smoke had significantly lower agreeableness and were more often living alone.

Personality, coping strategies and psychosocial circumstances are associated with smoking cessation rates in patients with MI. Considering personality factors and coping strategies to better individualise smoking cessation programs in MI patients might be of importance.