Smoking cessation: Results of three year's activity

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is widely considered the most common cause of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and smoking cessation programs are effective in the treatment of this condition. Aims: To analyse the results of our protocol for smoking cessation after three years of activity; to check the efficacy of follow up; to value the drug success rate of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy), Varenicline and association between Varenicline and Nicotine Inhaler. Methods: from June 2006 to December 2010 we enrolled 445 subjects, 163 men (37%) and 282 women (63%). All patients who participated in our protocol, which includes a course of three sessions and counselling combinated with drug therapy (Nicotine Therapy Replacement and/or Varenicline), were called by phone in February 2011. Results: The mean age of our patients was 49±11 years and the mean smoking exposure 34 pack/years. The degree of nicotine dependence tested with Fagerstrom Questionnaire was very low (0-2) in 9% of patients, low (3-4) in 17%, medium (5-6) in 34%, high (7-8) in 30% and very high (9-10) in 10%. The average of Exhaled Carbon Monoxide (CO) was 25±13 ppm. The abstinence rate was: after a month 71%, 3 months 38.4%, 6 months 37.9%, 1 year 37.8%, 2 years 36.3% and 3 years 26.5%. The drug therapy success rate was 37.2% for NRT, 28.5% for Varenicline and 34.2% for Varenicline associated with Nicotine Inhaler as needed. Conclusions: Our results confirm the importance of follow up and regular phone calls in improving outcomes in smoking cessation. The NRT has showed the best success rate and the efficacy of Vareniclina can be improved with Nicotine Inhaler association: maybe we can consider this drug combination like an emerging treatment.