The impact of different interventions on smoking cessation in 209 smokers hospitalised with acute cardiovascular disease was assessed in this study. Patients were randomised to treatment with intensive antismoking intervention (comprising a minimum of 12 weeks of behaviour modification counselling plus individualized pharmacotherapy provided at no cost to the participant) or usual care consisting of counselling and printed educational material provided prior to hospital discharge. At 24 months, rates of continuous smoking cessation amongst subjects in the intensive intervention group were 33% versus 9% in the control group (p < 0.001). There were significant reductions in hospitalisations (RRR 44%; p = 0.007) and all-cause mortality in the study group (RRR 77%; p = 0.014) vs controls). The absolute risk reduction in mortality was 9.2% (NNT 11). The authors conclude that hospitalised smokers, especially those with cardiovascular disease, should receive intensive smoking cessation interventions.
