Reduced incidence of acute myocardial infarction in the first year after implementation of a public smoking ban in Graubuenden, Switzerland.

st , 2008 and February 28 th , 2009 were collected prospectively. The data were then compared with those of the two corresponding 12-month periods preceding implementation of the public smoking ban. Results: In the two years before adoption of smoke-free legislation, the number of patients with AMI was 229 and 242, respectively (p = ns). In the 12 months after implementation of the public smoking ban, the number of AMI patients dropped to 183 (p <0.05 vs. each of the previous 12-month periods), representing an overall 22% reduction in the AMI incidence within the first year after enactment of the new regulation. This reduction was driven by a significant decrease in the AMI incidence in men, nonsmokers, and individuals with established coronary artery disease, including those with prior AMI or prior percutaneous coronary intervention. Conclusions: Similar to other countries in Europe and various regions of the USA and Canada, implementation of a public smoking ban was followed by a significant early decline in the incidence of AMI in the Canton of Graubuenden, Switzerland.