Continued Smoking in Lung Transplant Patients: A Cross Sectional Survey

Smoking is associated with a higher incidence of post-lung transplantation complications and mortality. Prior to inclusion on the lung transplant waiting list in the Czech Republic, patients are supposed to be tobacco free for at least 6 months. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of smoking, validated by urinary cotinine, among patients post lung transplantation and prior to inclusion on the transplant waiting list.

Between 2009 and 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of urinary cotinine to assess tobacco exposure in 203 patients in the Lung Transplant Program in the Czech Republic. We measured urinary cotinine in 163 patients prior to inclusion on the transplantation waiting list, and 53 patients post bilateral lung transplantation.

15.1% (95% CI 0.078 to 0.269) of all lung transplant recipients had urinary cotinine levels corresponding to active smoking; and a further 3.8% (95% CI 0.007 to 0.116) had borderline results. Compared to patients with other diagnoses, patients with COPD were 35 times more likely to resume smoking post- transplantation (95% CI 1.92 to 637.37, p-value 0.016). All patients who tested positive for urinary cotinine levels were offered smoking cessation support. Only one Tx patient sought treatment for tobacco dependence, but was unsuccessful.

Smoking resumption may be an underrecognized risk for lung transplantation recipients, particularly among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. More rigorous screening, as well as support and treatment to stop smoking among these patients are needed.