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Smoking, ignorance, and peripheral vascular disease
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|August 1, 1982
Summary
Few patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) quit smoking after surgeon advice. Higher carboxyhemoglobin levels in PVD patients suggest smoking risk is better indicated by blood levels than consumption alone.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a significant health concern.
- Smoking is a major risk factor for PVD.
- Patient adherence to smoking cessation advice can be challenging to assess.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of surgeon's advice on smoking cessation in PVD patients.
- To explore the utility of blood carboxyhemoglobin levels in assessing smoking habits and PVD risk.
- To investigate the relationship between smoking, carboxyhemoglobin, and PVD.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 43 patients with PVD and a control group of 25 smokers without PVD.
- Blood carboxyhemoglobin levels were measured to assess smoking.
- Patient self-reported smoking habits were compared with objective measures.
Main Results:
- Only 17.5% of PVD patients quit smoking.
- Patients with PVD had significantly higher carboxyhemoglobin levels than controls, despite similar cigarette consumption.
- Many patients were unaware of smoking's specific impact on peripheral arteries.
Conclusions:
- Surgeon's advice alone has limited impact on smoking cessation in PVD patients.
- Blood carboxyhemoglobin levels may be a more accurate indicator of smoking-related risk in PVD than self-reported consumption.
- Increased awareness of smoking's detrimental effects on peripheral arteries is needed.