Cardiovascular Risk Among Patients Who Smoke: Risk Profiles and Differences by Sex

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Smoking poses significant risks to cardiovascular health, making smoking cessation a critical component of cardiovascular disease prevention.
• Understanding sex-specific differences in smoking behavior and cessation outcomes is essential for optimizing public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the profile and smoking abstinence rates between female and male smokers at high cardiovascular risk.
• To identify sex-based disparities in cardiovascular risk factors and smoking cessation success.

Main Methods:

• An observational study utilizing a large French nationwide database of individuals attending smoking cessation services (2001-2018).
• Inclusion criteria: age ≥18 years with at least one cardiovascular risk factor.
• Abstinence was self-reported and biochemically verified using exhaled carbon monoxide levels.

Main Results:

• Out of 36,864 smokers, 42% were women, who were younger and more educated than men.
• Women had a lower burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors but higher rates of obesity, respiratory diseases, and anxiety/depression symptoms.
• Despite lower nicotine dependence, women exhibited a slightly lower abstinence rate (52.6%) compared to men (55.2%).

Conclusions:

• Female smokers present unique challenges, including higher rates of obesity and mental health comorbidities, alongside lower cessation success.
• Male smokers demonstrated higher cardiovascular disease prevalence, nicotine dependence, and co-addictions.
• Findings underscore the necessity for sex-tailored smoking cessation interventions to enhance cardiovascular prevention efforts.