Predictors of smoking relapse after percutaneous coronary intervention in Chinese patients

Aims and objectives To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of smoking relapse after percutaneous coronary intervention in Chinese patients. Background Smoking is considered a vital risk factor for coronary heart disease. Although smoking cessation could decrease the risks of adverse cardiac outcomes, many patients resume smoking following a short period of abstinence. However, little is known about smoking resumption in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. Design and methods A longitudinal study was conducted among Chinese patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Predictive variables were assessed at baseline through medical records and interviews with questionnaires including the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression scale and Smoking Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire. Smoking relapses were recorded at three, six, nine and 12 months by the self‐reporting through telephone or at routine visits to the cardiology outpatient clinics. Results A total of 221 patients who quit smoking immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention completed the whole study. Overall, 51.1%(n = 113) of the patients relapsed within 12 months after percutaneous coronary intervention. The prevalence showed a particular rise (49.6%, n = 56) in the first 3 months and a more gradual increase in the following months. The patients who were employed and had higher nicotine dependence, worse depressive symptoms and lower level of smoking self‐efficacy were more vulnerable to relapse to cigarettes. Conclusion The prevalence of smoking relapse is high in the patients who stop smoking in the hospital due to percutaneous coronary intervention. The predictors of smoking relapse are employment, nicotine dependence, depression and smoking self‐efficacy in the post‐ percutaneous coronary intervention patients. Relevance to clinical practice This study may prompt the healthcare providers to focus on the issue of smoking relapse and provide some instructions for identification of the patients with a high‐risk of relapse after percutaneous coronary intervention.