Follow-up loss in smoking cessation consultation: can we predict and prevent it?

Cigarette smoking has a considerable health and economic burden in modern society, with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, smoking cessation policies and medical treatments are essential. However, cessation rates are low and the abandonment of the consultation is common. The identification of characteristics that may predict adherence will help defining the best treatment strategy. This study aimed to identify predictors of follow-up loss in smoking cessation consultation.

We made a retrospective observational study, including a cohort of patients who started smoking cessation consultation (April-December 2018). Clinical data from consultations was collected and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics (SPSS, RRID:SCR_002865).

A total of 175 patients was selected (41.1% female), with a mean age of 53±12 years. Eighty-five patients (48.6%) were discharged for abandonment. They had a median pack-year unit 38±36 (P=0.011), Fagerström and Richmond scores of 5±2 and 7±2, respectively. There was an association between women (P<0.001), younger age (P<0.001), depression/anxiety (P=0.023), lower smoking load (P=0.019), starting the treatment in the first appointment (P=0.004) and the abandonment of the consultation. In binary logistic regression, younger age (less than 50 years) (OR =4.39; 95% CI: 1.99-9.70), starting the treatment in the first appointment (OR =3.04; 95% CI: 1.44-6.42) and depression/anxiety (OR =2.30; 95% CI: 1.08-4.88) remained independent predictors of loss in follow-up.

Women, younger age, depression/anxiety, lower smoking load and starting treatment in the first appointment are predictors of follow-up loss, so, these patients may benefit from more frequent evaluations and intensive cognitive approach. This study also raises awareness about the adequate timing to start pharmacological support for smoking cessation.