Smoking cessation, but not reduction, reduces cardiovascular disease incidence
Authors' conclusion
Smoking cessation, but not reduction, was associated with reduced CVD risk.
Study context
- Population
- Current smokers aged ≥40 years with two consecutive national health examinations (2009 and 2011)5,575,556 person-years (PY) follow-up
- Participants
- 897,975 smokers
- Exposure
- Smoking cessation or reduction vs sustained smoking
- Outcome
- CVD (stroke and MI)
Methodological detailsnational health examinations
- National health examinations
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Stroke and MI
Each group vs sustainersAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Quittersstroke; ARR −0.37 (95% CI −0.43 to −0.31)
0.77(0.74–0.81)
QuittersMI; ARR −0.27 (95% CI −0.31 to −0.22)
0.74(0.70–0.78)
Reducers Istroke
1.02(0.97–1.08)
Reducers IMI
0.99(0.92–1.06)
Reducers IIstroke
1.00(0.95–1.05)
Reducers IIMI
0.97(0.92–1.04)
- Overall stroke events
- 17 748 (3.2/1000 PY)
- Overall myocardial infarction (MI) events
- 11 271 (2.0/1000 PY)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in those who quit at 2nd exam but resumed smoking by 3rd exam (2013) vs sustained quitters (subgroup)
- Increased CVD risk
- 42-69%
Original publication
Smoking cessation, but not reduction, reduces cardiovascular disease incidence. Eur Heart J. Published 25 August 2021. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it