New research in the Journal of the American Heart Association, supported by the NHLBI, highlights the importance of targeted outreach, tools, and support to help adults with cardiovascular disease quit smoking. Based on a section of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, researchers project 6.2 million adults with cardiovascular disease smoke. Those who quit smoking can reduce the risk for future cardiovascular events, including a heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
To generate this insight, the study authors connected with 32,172 adults in 2013-2014. Among these participants, 2,615 (9.7%) had cardiovascular disease. Within this group, about one in four (28.9%) used tobacco. Five years later, many still used tobacco. About one in five (18%) had stopped. Around 10% of study participants who smoked cigarettes enrolled in a smoking cessation program, which helped less than one in four quit. The authors highlight the importance of smoking cessation programs supported by health insurance and diverse medical teams, including primary care physicians, social workers, psychologists, and cardiologists.
The researchers also note the study findings may inform public health efforts and targeted outreach to help more adults with cardiovascular disease quit smoking. The most common tobacco product used among adults with cardiovascular disease was cigarettes (82.8%), followed by cigars (23.7%) and e-cigarettes (23.3%). Women with cardiovascular disease were more likely than men to use e-cigarettes. And among adults who use e-cigarettes and have cardiovascular disease, many dually smoke cigarettes but believe e-cigarettes aren’t as harmful.