Introduction: Smoking is a crucial modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease. However, effective support in smoking cessation (SC) and data regarding factors related to SC are still inadequate.
Objectives: We aimed to assess SC rates and factors related to effective SC in patients after coronary angiography (CA).
Patients and methods: Patients who underwent CA between 2014 and 2018 at a single center in Poland were screened for active smoking. After at least 6 months after the procedure, the patients were contacted by telephone to obtain information about their current smoking status and history of smoking during the follow‑up.
Results: A total of 3719 consecutive patients were screened. Of these, 921 (24.8%) declared active smoking. At least 6 months after CA, 241 patients were available for a follow‑up interview. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 61.2 (9.3) years, 168 (69.7%) were men, and 115 (47.7%) had acute coronary syndrome. The mean (SD) duration of hospitalization was 6 (4.4) days, and 67 patients (27.8%) were scheduled for a second‑stage procedure. A total of 80 patients (33.2%) declared SC at the 6‑month follow‑up. The multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that duration of hospitalization equal to or greater than 4 days (odds ratio [OR], 3.62; 95% CI, 1.9-6.89), the Fagerström score equal to or lower than 4 points (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.01-3.79), a scheduled second hospitalization (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.32-4.86), and a smoking load greater than or equal to 51 pack‑years (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.16-4.47) increased the chance of SC.
Conclusions: A substantial number of patients who underwent CA were current smokers, with low SC rates in the follow‑up. A prolonged hospital stay, scheduled second hospitalization, low nicotine dependence but also a high load of pack‑years increased the chances of SC, which underscores the need for intensive and repetitive in‑hospital counseling in the whole population of smokers.