Fagerstrom score predicts smoking status six months after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction: a...

Fagerstrom score is a validated marker of nicotine addiction in smokers.

In a prospective study, we investigated a) the predictive value of Fagerstrom score for the smoking status in patients early after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and b) the effectiveness of medically assisted smoking cessation programs in the prevention of relapsing to smoking post discharge. In 103 smokers (58 ± 12 years, 79.6% males), we assessed Fagerstrom score during hospitalization for AMI. Patients filled a dedicated questionnaire including data on family, marital and educational status, habits related to smoking and were followed-up at 3 and 6 months after discharge.

Twenty-eight patients (27.2%) did not quit smoking throughout the 6-months follow-up period (Fagerstrom score:8.1 ± 1.6), 39 patients (37.8%) ceased smoking at 3 months but relapsed to smoking at 6 months (score:6.8 ± 2.1), and only 34 patients (33%) had ceased smoking for 6 consecutive months (score:5.2 ± 2 p < 0.05 for all comparisons between subgroups). By multivariate analysis, Fagerstrom score remained a significant predictor of smoking cessation at 6 months (OR: 0.72, 95%CI: 0.60--0.86, p < 0.001). Out of 73 patients who abstained from smoking for the first 3 months post-AMI, those who participated in a smoking cessation program displayed lower rate of relapsing to smoking compared with those who opted to cease smoking without any support (33.3% vs 61.8% p = 0.012).

Fagerstrom score is a useful predictor of smoking cessation 6 months post-AMI. Patients participating in a smoking cessation program display lower relapse rates post-discharge suggesting the need of well-organized smoking cessation clinics for secondary prevention of heart disease.