Smoking Cessation Rates among Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery in a Canadian Center

Smoking is the single most important modifiable risk factor for patients with vascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking and cessation rates among patients undergoing vascular surgery in a Canadian center.

As part of the Vascular Quality Initiative, a prospectively maintained database was used to identify the patients undergoing vascular surgery between 2010 and 2013. Smoking prevalence data were collated preprocedure, postprocedure, and at year follow-up after intervention at a median of 13 months (mean = 14.4 ± 7.8 months). Cessation rates at 13-month follow-up were assessed to determine any statistically significant univariate factors. These factors were then used to build a model through backwards logistic regression. Multicollinearity was tested by assessing both variance inflation factors and tolerance.

Overall, 624 patients had complete follow-up data. Of these, 209 (33.5%) were smokers presurgically. At 1-year follow-up, of those 209 patients who were smokers preoperatively, 87 (41.6%) had stopped smoking while 122 (58.4%) had not. Patients who were male and aged >70 years were more likely to be smokers preoperatively (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Cessation rates were increased in those aged >70 years (P = 0.005) and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = 0.016). Gender was also statistically associated, with cessation rates higher in females (P = 0.011).

More than one-third of patients who underwent surgery in a Canadian vascular center continue to smoke. Uniquely, we report a statistically significant association between gender and postoperative cessation rates.