Interventions for Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Persons: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Improving Tobacco Cessation Rates Using Inline Clinical Decision Support

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Even brief advice from a clinician can significantly influence cessation rates among tobacco users, but clinicians often miss opportunities to provide this simple intervention.

OBJECTIVES

The intent of this quality improvement project was to increase tobacco cessation among tobacco users by nudging clinicians using a clinical decision support (CDS) tool.

METHODS

We developed a CDS tool using principles of user-centered design and the CDS Five Rights to dynamically insert actionable information about current tobacco users into the Assessment and Plan section of clinicians' notes. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients at four primary care practices in the Denver Metro area evaluating the impact of the CDS tool on time to tobacco cessation. A multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model was used in this determination. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate tobacco cessation probabilities at 90, 180, and 365 days.

RESULTS

We analyzed 5,644 patients with a median age of 45 years, most of whom lived in an urban location (99.5%) and the majority of whom were males (60%). The median follow-up time for patients was 16 months. After adjustment for age, gender, practice site, and patient location (rural, urban), the intervention group had significantly greater risk of tobacco cessation compared to those in the control group (hazard ratio: 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.36; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests a CDS intervention which respects the CDS Five Rights and incorporates user-centered design can affect tobacco use rates. Future work should expand the target population of this CDS tool and continue a user-centered, iterative design process.

The Fibrinolytic System in Peripartum Depression

The relationship between depression and reduced fibrinolytic activity reflects the role of tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin in brain remodeling underlying resilience, depression remission, and reward processing, rather than the dissolution of fibrin clots. Individuals who experience depression demonstrate hippocampal and prefrontal cortex atrophy, as well as impaired neuronal connectivity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synthesized as a precursor that is activated through cleavage by tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin, influences adult neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Depression is associated with decreased brain levels of BDNF, due to reduced activity of tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin. Tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin also mediate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter implicated in motivation and reward. Peripartum depression defines a depressive episode that occurs during pregnancy or in the first month after delivery, reinforcing the concept that postpartum depression may be a continuum of antenatal depression. This article describes the fibrinolytic status in the healthy brain, in stress and depression, emphasizing the links between biological markers of depression and defective fibrinolysis. It also discusses the association between hypofibrinolysis and risk factors for perinatal depression, including polycystic ovary syndrome, early miscarriage, preeclampsia, stressful life events, sedentariness, eating habits, gestational and type 2 diabetes, and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies. In addition, it reviews the evidence that antidepressant medications and interventions as diverse as placebo, psychotherapy, massage, video game playing, regular exercise, dietary modifications, omega 3 fatty acid supplementation, neurohormones, and cigarette smoking may reduce depression by restoring the fibrinolytic activity. Last, it suggests new directions for research.

Tobacco Use and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Practical Guide for Clinicians

More than 40% of people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) in the United States smoke tobacco cigarettes. Among those on antiretroviral therapy, smoking decreases life expectancy more than human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) itself. Most PWH who smoke want to quit, but tobacco dependence treatment has not been widely integrated into HIV care. This article summarizes the epidemiology of tobacco use among PWH, health consequences of tobacco use and benefits of cessation in PWH, and studies of treatment for tobacco dependence among the general population and among PWH. We provide practical guidance for providers to treat tobacco dependence among PWH. A 3-step Ask-Advise-Connect framework includes asking about tobacco use routinely during clinical encounters, advising about tobacco cessation with emphasis on the benefits of cessation, and actively connecting patients to cessation treatments, including prescription of pharmacotherapy (preferably varenicline) and direct connection to behavioral interventions via telephone quitline or other means to increase the likelihood of a successful quit attempt.

Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

IMPORTANCE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and death in the US and is the cause of more than 1 of every 4 deaths. Coronary heart disease is the single leading cause of death and accounts for 43% of deaths attributable to CVD in the US. In 2019, an estimated 558 000 deaths were caused by coronary heart disease and 109 000 deaths were caused by ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To update its 2016 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review of the evidence on the benefits and harms of statins for reducing CVD-related morbidity or mortality or all-cause mortality.

POPULATION

Adults 40 years or older without a history of known CVD and who do not have signs and symptoms of CVD.

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that statin use for the prevention of CVD events and all-cause mortality in adults aged 40 to 75 years with no history of CVD and who have 1 or more CVD risk factors (ie, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and an estimated 10-year CVD event risk of 10% or greater has at least a moderate net benefit. The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that statin use for the prevention of CVD events and all-cause mortality in adults aged 40 to 75 years with no history of CVD and who have 1 or more of these CVD risk factors and an estimated 10-year CVD event risk of 7.5% to less than 10% has at least a small net benefit. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms of statin use for the primary prevention of CVD events and mortality in adults 76 years or older with no history of CVD.

RECOMMENDATION

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians prescribe a statin for the primary prevention of CVD for adults aged 40 to 75 years who have 1 or more CVD risk factors (ie, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and an estimated 10-year CVD risk of 10% or greater. (B recommendation) The USPSTF recommends that clinicians selectively offer a statin for the primary prevention of CVD for adults aged 40 to 75 years who have 1 or more of these CVD risk factors and an estimated 10-year CVD risk of 7.5% to less than 10%. The likelihood of benefit is smaller in this group than in persons with a 10-year risk of 10% or greater. (C recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of initiating a statin for the primary prevention of CVD events and mortality in adults 76 years or older. (I statement).

Quitting Smoking before and after Pregnancy: Study Methods and Baseline Data from a Prospective Cohort Study

Smoking during pregnancy and postpartum remains an important public health problem. No known prior study has prospectively examined mutual changes in risk factors and women's smoking trajectory across pregnancy and postpartum. The objective of this study was to report methods used to implement a prospective cohort (Msgs4Moms), present participant baseline characteristics, and compare our sample characteristics to pregnant women from national birth record data. The cohort study was designed to investigate smoking patterns, variables related to tobacco use and abstinence, and tobacco treatment quality across pregnancy through 1-year postpartum. Current smokers or recent quitters were recruited from obstetrics clinics. Analyses included Chi-square and independent sample t-tests using Cohen's d. A total of 62 participants (41 smokers and 21 quitters) were enrolled. Participants were Black (45.2%), White (35.5%), and multiracial (19.3%); 46.8% had post-secondary education; and most were Medicaid-insured (64.5%). Compared with quitters, fewer smokers were employed (65.9 vs 90.5%, Cohen's d = 0.88) and more reported financial strain (61.1% vs 28.6%; Cohen's d = 0.75). Women who continue to smoke during pregnancy cope with multiple social determinants of health. Longitudinal data from this cohort provide intensive data to identify treatment gaps, critical time points, and potential psychosocial variables warranting intervention.

Relative Harm Perceptions of E-Cigarettes Versus Cigarettes, U.S. Adults, 2018-2020

INTRODUCTION

It is unknown how U.S. adults' relative harm perceptions of E-cigarettes versus cigarettes and associated behaviors changed during the E-cigarette or vaping product use‒associated lung injury epidemic (late 2019) and COVID-19 pandemic (since early 2020).

METHODS

Data from cross-sectional nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey collected in 2018 (n=3,360), 2019 (n=3,217), and 2020 (n=3,677) (analyzed in 2021) were used to estimate changes in relative harm perceptions of E-cigarettes versus cigarettes (less harmful, as harmful, more harmful, don't know as a measure of uncertainty). In addition, changes in exclusive cigarette smoking, exclusive E-cigarette use, and dual use were estimated for each relative harm perception level.

RESULTS

Perceptions of E-cigarettes as more harmful than cigarettes doubled year on year, increasing most between 2019 and 2020 (2018: 6.8%, 2019: 12.8%, 2020: 28.3%), whereas uncertainty in relative harm declined (2018: 38.2%, 2019: 34.2%, 2020: 24.7%). Less harmful relative perceptions declined (2018:17.6%, 2019:15.3%, 2020:11.4%), whereas as harmful perceptions remained steady (2018: 37.4%, 2019: 37.7%, 2020: 35.6%). Exclusive cigarette smoking increased between 2019 and 2020 among those who perceived E-cigarettes as relatively more harmful (2018: 18.5%; 2019: 8.4%; 2020: 16.3%), exclusive E-cigarette use increased linearly among those who perceived them as relatively less harmful (7.9%, 15.3%, 26.7%), and dual use increased linearly in those who perceived them relatively as harmful (0.1%, 1.4%, 2.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Perceptions of E-cigarettes as more harmful than cigarettes increased sharply between 2019 and 2020. Increases in tobacco product use were potentially guided by product-specific relative harm perceptions because changes occurred primarily in individuals who perceived their preferred product as relatively less harmful, suggesting the need for accurate messaging of relative and absolute product risks.

Asthma and Tobacco Smoking

Asthma is a prevalent chronic pulmonary condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Tobacco smoking is implicated in asthma pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Smokers display increased prevalence and incidence of asthma, but a causal association cannot be claimed using existing evidence. Second-hand smoking and passive exposure to tobacco in utero and early life have also been linked with asthma development. Currently, approximately one-fourth of asthma patients are smokers. Regular smokers with asthma might display accelerated lung function decline and non-reversible airflow limitation, making their distinction from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients challenging. Asthma patients who smoke typically have uncontrolled disease, as shown by increased symptoms, more exacerbations and impaired quality of life. On the other hand, smoking cessation improves lung function and asthma severity. Thus, asthma patients and their caregivers should be actively questioned about their smoking status at each medical encounter, and smoking cessation ought to be strongly encouraged both for patients with asthma and their close contacts. Smokers with asthma should be provided with comprehensive smoking cessation interventions on top of other anti-asthma medications.

Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults Without Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

IMPORTANCE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the US. A large proportion of CVD cases can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, elevated blood pressure or hypertension, dyslipidemia, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy diet. Adults who adhere to national guidelines for a healthy diet and physical activity have lower rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than those who do not; however, most US adults do not consume healthy diets or engage in physical activity at recommended levels.

OBJECTIVE

To update its 2017 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review of the evidence on the benefits and harms of behavioral counseling interventions to promote healthy behaviors in adults without CVD risk factors.

POPULATION

Adults 18 years or older without known CVD risk factors, which include hypertension or elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose or glucose tolerance, or mixed or multiple risk factors such as metabolic syndrome or an estimated 10-year CVD risk of 7.5% or greater.

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that behavioral counseling interventions have a small net benefit on CVD risk in adults without CVD risk factors.

RECOMMENDATION

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians individualize the decision to offer or refer adults without CVD risk factors to behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity. (C recommendation).

Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Promote a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults Without Known Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

IMPORTANCE

Unhealthful dietary patterns, low levels of physical activity, and high sedentary time increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize the evidence on benefits and harms of behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical activity in adults without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors to inform a US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through February 2021, with ongoing surveillance through February 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of behavioral counseling interventions targeting improved diet, increased physical activity, or decreased sedentary time among adults without known elevated blood pressure, elevated lipid levels, or impaired fasting glucose.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Independent data abstraction and study quality rating and random effects meta-analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

CVD events, CVD risk factors, diet and physical activity measures, and harms.

RESULTS

One-hundred thirteen RCTs were included (N = 129 993). Three RCTs reported CVD-related outcomes: 1 study (n = 47 179) found no significant differences between groups on any CVD outcome at up to 13.4 years of follow-up; a combined analysis of the other 2 RCTs (n = 1203) found a statistically significant association of the intervention with nonfatal CVD events (hazard ratio, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.08 to 0.88]) and fatal CVD events (hazard ratio, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.11 to 0.93]) at 4 years. Diet and physical activity behavioral counseling interventions were associated with small, statistically significant reductions in continuous measures of blood pressure (systolic mean difference, -0.8 [95% CI, -1.3 to -0.3]; 23 RCTs [n = 57 079]; diastolic mean difference, -0.4 [95% CI, -0.8 to -0.0]; 24 RCTs [n = 57 148]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (mean difference, 2.2 mg/dL [95% CI, -3.8 to -0.6]; 15 RCTs [n = 6350]), adiposity-related outcomes (body mass index mean difference, -0.3 [95% CI, -0.5 to -0.1]; 27 RCTs [n = 59 239]), dietary outcomes, and physical activity at 6 months to 1.5 years of follow-up vs control conditions. There was no evidence of greater harm among intervention vs control groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Healthy diet and physical activity behavioral counseling interventions for persons without a known risk of CVD were associated with small but statistically significant benefits across a variety of important intermediate health outcomes and small to moderate effects on dietary and physical activity behaviors. There was limited evidence regarding the long-term health outcomes or harmful effects of these interventions.

Assessment of formal tobacco treatment and smoking cessation in dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes

BACKGROUND

The utility of electronic cigarettes ('e-cigarettes') as a smoking cessation adjunct remains unclear. Similarly, it is unclear if formal tobacco treatment (pharmacotherapy and/or behavioural support) augments smoking cessation in individuals who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

METHODS

We performed a longitudinal cohort study of adult outpatients evaluated in our tertiary care medical centre (6/2018-6/2020). E-cigarette use, smoking status and formal tobacco treatment (deterrent pharmacotherapy and/or behavioural support) were assessed in 6-month blocks (eg, cohort 1 (C1)=6/2018-12/2018, C2=1/2019-6/2019 and so on) using our electronic health record. We assessed the relationship between e-cigarette use (either with or without formal tobacco treatment) and point prevalence of smoking cessation at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

111 823 unique patients were included in the study. The prevalence of dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes increased significantly over the study period (C1=0.8%; C2=1.1%; C3=1.8%; C4=2.3%; p<0.001). The prevalence of smoking cessation at 12 months was higher among e-cigarette users (20.8%) compared with non-users (16.8%) (risk difference, 4.0% (95% CI 2.5% to 5.5%); adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.354, 95% CI 1.252 to 1.464, p<0.0001). Further, among dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, the prevalence of smoking cessation at 12 months was higher among individuals who received tobacco treatment (29.1%) compared with individuals who did not receive tobacco treatment (19.6%) (risk difference, 9.5% (95% CI, 4.6% to 14.4%); aRR 1.238, 95% CI 1.071 to 1.432, p=0.004).

INTERPRETATION

These results suggest that dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes benefit from formal tobacco treatment. Clinicians should consider offering formal tobacco treatment to such patients, though future trials are needed.

Angina Outcomes in Nonsmokers Exposed to Secondhand Smoke: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2018

Objective  The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between secondhand smoke (SHS) and angina using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database over a 12-year period.

Methods  Self-reported smoking status and cotinine levels were used to identify exposure groups (smokers, nonsmokers, and secondhand smokers), and medical history of angina was also collected via a self-report survey. The association between exposure to SHS and angina was analyzed using odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals calculated using two logistic regression models.

Results  The study found that when aggregating data from all 12 years, secondhand smokers are 42.9% significantly more likely to report having experienced angina, while smokers were 97.7% significantly more likely to report having angina compared with nonsmokers.

Conclusions  This study is the first of its kind to examine data from a national database over a 12-year period to determine an association between SHS and angina outcomes, thus highlighting the importance of reducing SHS exposure to improve cardiovascular health.

Pilot randomized trial of cognitive-behavioral treatment plus contingency management for quitting smoking and weight gain prevention among smokers with overweight or obesity

BACKGROUND

Post-cessation weight gain is a risk factor for relapse among quitters. The primary study aim was to evaluate, among smokers with overweight or obesity, the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) plus contingency management (CM) for quitting smoking and weight control. The secondary aim was to examine preliminary tobacco abstinence and weight change outcomes.

METHODS

In an 8-week pilot randomized clinical trial, 41 participants (M_age = 52.73, SD = 10.91, 56.1% females) with overweight or obesity (M_BMI = 31.86, SD = 4.7) received a CBT for both quitting smoking and weight gain prevention (n = 24) or the same treatment plus CM (n = 17), consisting of providing incentives contingent upon smoking abstinence biochemically verified.

RESULTS

Recruitment success rate was 80.39% (41/51), completion rate was 90.24% (37/41), and mean number of sessions attended (out of 15 possible) was 13.20 (SD = 3.1). Mean satisfaction rating for the treatment (1-10 likert-type scale with 10 being most satisfactory) was 9.73 (SD =.61). Preliminary efficacy data indicated that the CM group achieved higher abstinence rates compared with the CBT condition (100% vs. 58.33%, p = .007). Abstinent participants increased 1.25 kg (SD = 1.79) their baseline body weight at the end of treatment (p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Providing weight gain prevention strategies and CM within a smoking cessation treatment seems feasible and acceptable. Preliminary data indicated that including CM facilitates tobacco abstinence rates, nevertheless no advantage for CM was found for weight control.

Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Importance

According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 52% of surveyed US adults reported using at least 1 dietary supplement in the prior 30 days and 31% reported using a multivitamin-mineral supplement. The most commonly cited reason for using supplements is for overall health and wellness and to fill nutrient gaps in the diet. Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the 2 leading causes of death and combined account for approximately half of all deaths in the US annually. Inflammation and oxidative stress have been shown to have a role in both cardiovascular disease and cancer, and dietary supplements may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Objective

To update its 2014 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a review of the evidence on the efficacy of supplementation with single nutrients, functionally related nutrient pairs, or multivitamins for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality in the general adult population, as well as the harms of supplementation.

Population

Community-dwelling, nonpregnant adults.

Evidence Assessment

The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that the harms of beta carotene supplementation outweigh the benefits for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF also concludes with moderate certainty that there is no net benefit of supplementation with vitamin E for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms of supplementation with multivitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. Evidence is lacking and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to determine the balance of benefits and harms of supplementation with single or paired nutrients (other than beta carotene and vitamin E) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. Evidence is lacking and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined.

Recommendation

The USPSTF recommends against the use of beta carotene or vitamin E supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. (D recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the use of multivitamin supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. (I statement) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the use of single- or paired-nutrient supplements (other than beta carotene and vitamin E) for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or cancer. (I statement).

Tobacco use during pregnancy

The use of tobacco during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. In high-income countries, around one in 10 pregnant women smokes tobacco, while smokeless tobacco is the primary form of tobacco used in many low- and middle-income countries. Although the risk of tobacco-related harms can be reduced substantially if mothers cease smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy, the proportion of women who successfully quit smoking during pregnancy remains modest. Psychosocial interventions are first-line treatment, with some high-quality evidence showing that counselling is effective in promoting smoking cessation among pregnant women. There is insufficient evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of smoking cessation pharmacotherapies when used during pregnancy, although in some countries nicotine replacement therapy is recommended for pregnant women who have been unable to quit without pharmacological assistance. E-cigarettes are increasingly being used as a smoking cessation aid in the general population of smokers, but more research is needed to determine if e-cigarettes are a safe and effective treatment option for pregnant women.

Management of primary hypertension in rural populations

ABSTRACT

Hypertension affects almost 20% of Canada's population and is even more prevalent in rural locations due to decreased availability of healthcare; lower income levels and levels of formal education; and higher rates of obesity, smoking, and alcohol use, among others. This article uses current evidence to describe the management of primary hypertension in rural populations.

Trends in Use of Conventional Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, and Marijuana in Pregnancy and Impact of Health Policy

The substance use policy context continues to evolve. As tobacco control policies have become more restrictive, marijuana legalization has increased access to marijuana. Data suggest that prenatal conventional cigarette use is declining, while e-cigarette and marijuana use are increasing among persons preconception, prenatally, and postpartum. Policy evaluations have found that increasing cigarette taxes reduces prenatal smoking and improves birth outcomes; however, there have been few studies of e-cigarette policies or marijuana legalization on prenatal use or birth outcomes. It is important for clinicians to screen for prenatal substance use, as recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and understand how policies influence use among their patients.

Multiple in-hospital counseling increases six-month smoking abstinence among individuals participating in a hospital-initiated smoking cessation program

BACKGROUND

A cessation program for hospitalized smokers is an effective strategy to achieve smoking abstinence. The effects of multiple in-hospital counseling sessions on 6-month smoking abstinence require further investigation.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the data of smokers who participated in hospital-initiated cessation programs at a medical center between 2017 and 2019. Data on age, sex, comorbidities, daily number of cigarettes, cessation motivation, nicotine dependence, cessation medications, discharge diagnosis, length of hospitalization, and intensive care unit admission were collected. We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to investigate the effect of multiple in-hospital counseling sessions on 6-month sustained smoking abstinence. Sensitivity analyses were carried out excluding participants who underwent post-discharge cessation programs and assuming that the loss to follow-up participants had failure in 6-month smoking abstinence.

RESULTS

A total of 1943 participants aged ≥ 20 years were analyzed. Compared with single in-hospital counseling session, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for 2 and ≥ 3 counseling sessions were 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05 to 1.98) and 2.02 (95% CI 1.27 to 3.22), respectively, with a significant trend for increasing the number of counseling sessions (P < 0.001). The results remained significant after excluding participants who underwent a post-discharge cessation program or when assuming that lost to follow-up participants had failure in smoking abstinence.

CONCLUSION

Multiple in-hospital counseling sessions were associated with a higher 6-month sustained smoking abstinence rate. This strategy could be used to reduce the prevalence of smoking.

Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement

IMPORTANCE

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible reduction of airflow in the lungs. Progression to severe disease can prevent participation in normal activities because of deterioration of lung function. In 2020 it was estimated that approximately 6% of US adults had been diagnosed with COPD. Chronic lower respiratory disease, composed mainly of COPD, is the sixth leading cause of death in the US.

OBJECTIVE

To update its 2016 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a reaffirmation evidence update that focused on targeted key questions for benefits and harms of screening for COPD in asymptomatic adults and treatment in screen-detected or screen-relevant adults.

POPULATION

Asymptomatic adults who do not recognize or report respiratory symptoms.

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

Using a reaffirmation process, the USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for COPD in asymptomatic adults has no net benefit.

RECOMMENDATION

The USPSTF recommends against screening for COPD in asymptomatic adults. (D recommendation).

Electronic cigarette use among adults in 14 countries: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The tobacco product landscape continues to change. No recent data for electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use have been reported for multiple countries based on nationally representative surveys. We examined prevalence of e-cigarette use and variations by sociodemographic characteristics in 14 countries using Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) data between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2018.

METHODS

GATS is a nationally representative household survey of tobacco use among adults aged ≥15 years. The analytic sample size ranged from 4347 in Senegal to 74,037 in India. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use was stratified by sociodemographic subgroups. Age-standardized prevalence was estimated according to world 2000-2025 standard population. Significant differences in adjusted prevalence across sociodemographic subgroup was determined by p value for marginal effect contrast in multivariable logistic regression models.

FINDINGS

More than 50% of adults in Russia, Romania, and Ukraine and additionally more than 30% of adults in China, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Mexico, and Philippines were aware of e-cigarettes. Crude prevalence of current e-cigarette use ranged from 0.02% (95% CI 0.01%-0.04%) in India to 3.5% (2.9%-4.2%) in Russia. Prevalence was <1% in nine countries. Approximately 18.3 million adults currently used e-cigarettes across the 14 countries. Men had a significantly higher prevalence of current e-cigarette use than women in eight countries. Additionally, higher adjusted prevalence was observed in some countries among young adults aged 15‒24 years, urban residents, and adults with higher education levels and higher wealth index.

INTERPRETATION

The study provides needed baseline data on e-cigarette awareness and use. Continued surveillance is essential to inform interventions and policies to prevent initiation and enhance cessation support.

FUNDING

None.

How can hospitals change practice to better implement smoking cessation interventions? A systematic review

Smoking cessation reduces the risk of death, improves recovery, and reduces the risk of hospital readmission. Evidence and policy support hospital admission as an ideal time to deliver smoking-cessation interventions. However, this is not well implemented in practice. In this systematic review, the authors summarize the literature on smoking-cessation implementation strategies and evaluate their success to guide the implementation of best-practice smoking interventions into hospital settings. The CINAHL Complete, Embase, MEDLINE Complete, and PsycInfo databases were searched using terms associated with the following topics: smoking cessation, hospitals, and implementation. In total, 14,287 original records were identified and screened, resulting in 63 eligible articles from 56 studies. Data were extracted on the study characteristics, implementation strategies, and implementation outcomes. Implementation outcomes were guided by Proctor and colleagues' framework and included acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, cost, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability. The findings demonstrate that studies predominantly focused on the training of staff to achieve implementation. Brief implementation approaches using a small number of implementation strategies were less successful and poorly sustained compared with well resourced and multicomponent approaches. Although brief implementation approaches may be viewed as advantageous because they are less resource-intensive, their capacity to change practice in a sustained way lacks evidence. Attempts to change clinician behavior or introduce new models of care are challenging in a short time frame, and implementation efforts should be designed for long-term success. There is a need to embrace strategic, well planned implementation approaches to embed smoking-cessation interventions into hospitals and to reap and sustain the benefits for people who smoke.

Aspirin Use to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

IMPORTANCE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the US, accounting for more than 1 in 4 deaths. Each year, an estimated 605 000 people in the US have a first myocardial infarction and an estimated 610 000 experience a first stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To update its 2016 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review on the effectiveness of aspirin to reduce the risk of CVD events (myocardial infarction and stroke), cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality in persons without a history of CVD. The systematic review also investigated the effect of aspirin use on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality in primary CVD prevention populations, as well as the harms (particularly bleeding) associated with aspirin use. The USPSTF also commissioned a microsimulation modeling study to assess the net balance of benefits and harms from aspirin use for primary prevention of CVD and CRC, stratified by age, sex, and CVD risk level.

POPULATION

Adults 40 years or older without signs or symptoms of CVD or known CVD (including history of myocardial infarction or stroke) who are not at increased risk for bleeding (eg, no history of gastrointestinal ulcers, recent bleeding, other medical conditions, or use of medications that increase bleeding risk).

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD events in adults aged 40 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk has a small net benefit. The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that initiating aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD events in adults 60 years or older has no net benefit.

RECOMMENDATION

The decision to initiate low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD in adults aged 40 to 59 years who have a 10% or greater 10-year CVD risk should be an individual one. Evidence indicates that the net benefit of aspirin use in this group is small. Persons who are not at increased risk for bleeding and are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily are more likely to benefit. (C recommendation) The USPSTF recommends against initiating low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD in adults 60 years or older. (D recommendation).

Implementation and Outcomes of a Maternal Smoking Cessation Program for a Multi-ethnic Cohort in California, USA, 2012-2019

Smoking during pregnancy remains one of the most significant risk factors for poor birth outcomes. During 2012-2019, the Loma Linda University Health Comprehensive Tobacco Treatment Program (CTTP) used a multicomponent behavioral intervention for tobacco cessation for 1402 pregnant smokers with components of known efficacy (i.e., incentives, biomarker testing, feedback, and motivational interviewing). The CTTP cohort includes a multi-ethnic sample of pregnant women with a mean age of 27 years referred by collaborating community-based healthcare providers in San Bernardino county. Evaluation of program outcomes from 7 years of follow-up (2012-2019) creates a rich cohort dataset for implementation science research to examine the real-world effectiveness of the program. In this report, we provide a cohort profile, and 8-week prolonged abstinence (8-week PA) and relapse findings from the first year of follow-up (n = 233). We found: (1) 28.4% achieved 8-week PA, (2) At a median of 6.2 months of follow-up after achieving 8-week PA, 23.2% of enrolled subjects reported tobacco cessation, and (3) a high rate of loss to follow-up (44%). In addition, our modeling indicated that the odds of relapse/smoking after enrollment was significantly higher in young mothers, non-Hispanic mothers (White, Black/African-American), mothers in the first and third trimester, and rural mothers. Formative quantitative and qualitative research on the CTTP cohort will consider the effects of a range of implementation science (number of intervention sessions, addition of a mHealth component, distance to care) and individual (partner/household smoking, birth outcomes, NICU) outcome measures for the purpose of scaling up the CTTP model.

Feasibility of a primary care patient decision aid for smoking cessation with information about e-cigarettes

Decision aids can promote shared decision making and behavior change and may be effective in helping patients quit smoking. Patients are increasingly using e-cigarettes for smoking cessation; however, little is known about the impact of including e-cigarette information in smoking cessation decision aids. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a smoking cessation decision aid including e-cigarette information. This study was conducted at one family medicine clinic in the United States. We used a pre-post design. In Phase I, the decision aid presented information about approved cessation methods. In Phase II, current e-cigarette users and patients with no intention of quitting received additional information on switching to e-cigarettes. We assessed the impact of the decision aids on quit attempts and abstinence, confidence and readiness to quit, confidence and readiness to switch to e-cigarettes, and patient satisfaction. We enrolled 60 patients in each phase (N = 120). Patients reported higher confidence and readiness to quit after viewing the decision aids and consulting with their physician (p < 0.01). Patients reported the decision aid helped prepare them to make a decision about quitting smoking and expressed satisfaction with the decision aid and clinician consultation. We did not observe an impact of including e-cigarette information. Smoking cessation decision aids are acceptable to patients and may promote behavior change. Future studies should explore the impact of providing patients e-cigarette information using larger sample sizes and rigorous designs. Further research is needed to identify strategies to promote shared decision-making regarding e-cigarettes.

An Analysis of Inpatient Tobacco Use Treatment Transition to Telehealth

INTRODUCTION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many tobacco users increased their tobacco use, and calls to quitlines decreased. Among inpatients, the pandemic also necessitated a rapid transition of intensive tobacco use counseling to telehealth counseling. No data exist comparing the outcomes of telehealth inpatient counseling with in-person (pre-telehealth) counseling.

AIMS AND METHODS

We examined inpatient data from a large tobacco treatment program (TTP) during two comparable time periods 04/01/2019-09/30/2019 (pre-telehealth) and 04/01/2020-09/30/2020 (telehealth). The pre-telehealth and telehealth populations were compared using Pearson's chi-square test for homogeneity on each populations' patient, visit, and medication acceptance characteristics. Reach to "current tobacco users" was analyzed using TTP flowsheet and electronic health record (EHR) data in relation to aggregate EHR data in the data warehouse.

RESULTS

Mean monthly tobacco treatment inpatient counseling and outreach visits increased 38.9% in the telehealth period (M = 376, SD = 36.7) compared with the pre-telehealth period (M = 271, SD = 50.0) (t(10) = 3.8, p = .004). Reach significantly increased from 32.8% to 65.9% among all "current tobacco users" admitted, including 31.8% to 66.6% in races at higher risk for COVID-19 severe disease. Pearson's chi-square tests for homogeneity showed significant differences in the pre-telehealth and telehealth population distributions for age, visit type, ethnicity, and medication acceptance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers the first understanding of characteristics of patients, visits, and medication acceptances in pre-telehealth and telehealth tobacco use treatment for inpatient populations. Larger reach and counseling were identified in the telehealth population. This study's findings on inpatient tobacco use treatment can inform future reach and engagement of large numbers of patients who use tobacco products.

IMPLICATIONS

This study provides the first analysis of inpatient tobacco use treatment transition to telehealth delivery of care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The transition resulted in increases in reach and cessation counseling. These findings can inform efforts to improve reach, engagement, and research on telehealth delivery of inpatient tobacco use treatment.

Tobacco and nicotine use

Tobacco smoking is a major determinant of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. More than a billion people smoke, and without major increases in cessation, at least half will die prematurely from tobacco-related complications. In addition, people who smoke have a significant reduction in their quality of life. Neurobiological findings have identified the mechanisms by which nicotine in tobacco affects the brain reward system and causes addiction. These brain changes contribute to the maintenance of nicotine or tobacco use despite knowledge of its negative consequences, a hallmark of addiction. Effective approaches to screen, prevent and treat tobacco use can be widely implemented to limit tobacco's effect on individuals and society. The effectiveness of psychosocial and pharmacological interventions in helping people quit smoking has been demonstrated. As the majority of people who smoke ultimately relapse, it is important to enhance the reach of available interventions and to continue to develop novel interventions. These efforts associated with innovative policy regulations (aimed at reducing nicotine content or eliminating tobacco products) have the potential to reduce the prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use and their enormous adverse impact on population health.

Implementing a Nicotine-Free Policy in the United States Military

In December 2019, the command of a US Army Advanced Individual Training battalion on Fort Eustis, Virginia, was briefed on the results of tobacco and nicotine use surveys distributed to trainee soldiers and subsequently decided to ban tobacco and nicotine products in this population. The policy implementation process was thoroughly planned in a joint effort between battalion leadership and the installation military health facility. Data were collected throughout the process that evaluated nicotine product use among trainee soldiers, instructors, and leaders. Preferences on assistance with quitting and views on policy implementation processes also were collected. Comprehensive and multimodal resources and therapy to assist with treatment of dependence of tobacco and nicotine were offered. Although more data are needed on outcomes of this type of intervention, addressing tobacco and nicotine use in the military is long overdue, and our intervention offers a reproducible model to do so. It incorporates education, behavioral resources, and medication therapy with the aim to improve long-term quit rates and to improve the health of soldiers throughout and after their careers.

Managing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adults: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

There is a need to identify high-risk features that predict early-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The authors provide insights to help clinicians identify and address high-risk conditions in the 20- to 39-year age range (young adults). These include tobacco use, elevated blood pressure/hypertension, family history of premature ASCVD, primary severe hypercholesterolemia such as familial hypercholesterolemia, diabetes with diabetes-specific risk-enhancing factors, or the presence of multiple other risk-enhancing factors, including in females, a history of pre-eclampsia or menopause under age 40. The authors update current thinking on lipid risk factors such as triglycerides, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, or lipoprotein (a) that are useful in understanding an individual's long-term ASCVD risk. The authors review emerging strategies, such as coronary artery calcium and polygenic risk scores in this age group, that have potential clinical utility, but whose best use remains uncertain. Finally, the authors discuss both the obstacles and opportunities for addressing prevention in early adulthood.

Underutilization of guideline-concordant smoking cessation treatments in surgical patients: Lessons from a learning health system

While smoking is a well-established risk factor for surgical complications, it is unclear how frequently guideline-concordant tobacco treatments are prescribed to surgical patients. In this cross-sectional study including 164673 unique patients evaluated in outpatient surgery clinics at a single institution in 2020, despite a relatively high smoking prevalence (14.7%), guideline-concordant treatment rates were very low, with only 12.7% of patients receiving pharmacotherapy and 31.7% receiving any treatment. Addressing disparities in smoking cessation treatments are critical given the disproportionate impact of smoking on surgical outcomes.

Late Breast Cancer Survivorship: Side Effects and Care Recommendations

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

European Society of Cardiology: cardiovascular disease statistics 2021

AIMS

This report from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas Project updates and expands upon the widely cited 2019 report in presenting cardiovascular disease (CVD) statistics for the 57 ESC member countries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Statistics pertaining to 2019, or the latest available year, are presented. Data sources include the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the World Bank, and novel ESC sponsored data on human and capital infrastructure and cardiovascular healthcare delivery. New material in this report includes sociodemographic and environmental determinants of CVD, rheumatic heart disease, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, left-sided valvular heart disease, the advocacy potential of these CVD statistics, and progress towards World Health Organization (WHO) 2025 targets for non-communicable diseases. Salient observations in this report: (i) Females born in ESC member countries in 2018 are expected to live 80.8 years and males 74.8 years. Life expectancy is longer in high income (81.6 years) compared with middle-income (74.2 years) countries. (ii) In 2018, high-income countries spent, on average, four times more on healthcare than middle-income countries. (iii) The median PM2.5 concentrations in 2019 were over twice as high in middle-income ESC member countries compared with high-income countries and exceeded the EU air quality standard in 14 countries, all middle-income. (iv) In 2016, more than one in five adults across the ESC member countries were obese with similar prevalence in high and low-income countries. The prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past 35 years. (v) The burden of CVD falls hardest on middle-income ESC member countries where estimated incidence rates are ∼30% higher compared with high-income countries. This is reflected in disability-adjusted life years due to CVD which are nearly four times as high in middle-income compared with high-income countries. (vi) The incidence of calcific aortic valve disease has increased seven-fold during the last 30 years, with age-standardized rates four times as high in high-income compared with middle-income countries. (vii) Although the total number of CVD deaths across all countries far exceeds the number of cancer deaths for both sexes, there are 15 ESC member countries in which cancer accounts for more deaths than CVD in males and five-member countries in which cancer accounts for more deaths than CVD in females. (viii) The under-resourced status of middle-income countries is associated with a severe procedural deficit compared with high-income countries in terms of coronary intervention, ablation procedures, device implantation, and cardiac surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION

Risk factors and unhealthy behaviours are potentially reversible, and this provides a huge opportunity to address the health inequalities across ESC member countries that are highlighted in this report. It seems clear, however, that efforts to seize this opportunity are falling short and present evidence suggests that most of the WHO NCD targets for 2025 are unlikely to be met across ESC member countries.

An Evaluation of Evidence Underpinning Management Recommendations in Tobacco Use Disorder Clinical Practice Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Clinical practice guidelines(CPGs) are important tools for medical decision-making. Given the high prevalence and financial burden associated with tobacco use disorder(TUD), it is critical that recommendations within CPGs are based on robust evidence. Systematic reviews(SRs) are considered the highest level of evidence, thus, we evaluated the quality of SRs underpinning CPG recommendations for TUD.

METHODS

We used PubMed to search for CPGs relating to TUD published between January 1, 2010 and May 21, 2021. SRs were extracted from CPG references and evaluated using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA) and A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews(AMSTAR-2) tools. We then compared SRs conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration with non-Cochrane SRs using a Mann-Whitney U test and determined associations between PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 extracted characteristics using multiple regression.

RESULTS

Our search generated 10 CPGs with 98 SRs extracted. Mean PRISMA completion was 74.7%(SD = 16.7) and mean AMSTAR-2 completion was 53.8%(SD = 22.0) across all guidelines. Cochrane SRs were more complete than non-Cochrane studies in the PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 assessments. The regression model showed a statistically significant association between PRISMA completion and AMSTAR-2 rating, with those classified as "low" or "moderate" quality having higher PRISMA completion than those with "critically low" ratings.

CONCLUSION

We found substandard adherence to PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 checklists across SRs cited in TUD CPGs. A lack of recent SRs in CPGs could lead to outdated recommendations. Therefore, frequent guideline updates with recently published evidence may ensure more accurate clinical recommendations and improve patient care.

IMPLICATIONS

Systematic reviews used to underpin clinical practice guideline recommendations influence treatment decisions and, ultimately, patient outcomes. We found that many systematic reviews underpinning tobacco use disorder guideline recommendations were out of date and unsatisfactory in reporting and quality. Thus, including newer systematic reviews containing more recently conducted trials and better reporting could alter recommendations and improve the rate of successful tobacco cessation attempts.

Treatment of Tobacco Smoking: A Review

IMPORTANCE

More deaths in the US are attributed to cigarette smoking each year than to any other preventable cause. Approximately 34 million people and an estimated 14% of adults in the US smoke cigarettes. If they stopped smoking, they could reduce their risk of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality and potentially gain up to 10 years of life.

OBSERVATIONS

Tobacco smoking is a chronic disorder maintained by physical nicotine dependence and learned behaviors. Approximately 70% of people who smoke cigarettes want to quit smoking. However, individuals who attempt to quit smoking make an average of approximately 6 quit attempts before achieving long-term abstinence. Both behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy while using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, varenicline, or bupropion are effective treatments when used individually, but they are most effective when combined. In a meta-analysis including 19 488 people who smoked cigarettes, the combination of medication and behavioral counseling was associated with a quit rate of 15.2% over 6 months compared with a quit rate of 8.6% with brief advice or usual care. The EAGLES trial, a randomized double-blind clinical trial of 8144 people who smoked, directly compared the efficacy and safety of varenicline, bupropion, nicotine patch, and placebo and found a significantly higher 6-month quit rate for varenicline (21.8%) than for bupropion (16.2%) and the nicotine patch (15.7%). Each therapy was more effective than placebo (9.4%). Combining a nicotine patch with other NRT products is more effective than use of a single NRT product. Combining drugs with different mechanisms of action, such as varenicline and NRT, has increased quit rates in some studies compared with use of a single product. Brief or intensive behavioral support can be delivered effectively in person or by telephone, text messages, or the internet. The combination of a clinician's brief advice to quit and assistance to obtain tobacco cessation treatment is effective when routinely administered to tobacco users in virtually all health care settings.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Approximately 34 million people in the US smoke cigarettes and could potentially gain up to a decade of life expectancy by stopping smoking. First-line therapy should include both pharmacotherapy and behavioral support, with varenicline or combination NRT as preferred initial interventions.

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

IMPORTANCE

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The prevalence of AF increases with age, from less than 0.2% in adults younger than 55 years to about 10% in those 85 years or older, with a higher prevalence in men than in women. It is uncertain whether the prevalence of AF differs by race and ethnicity. Atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and is associated with a substantial increase in the risk of stroke. Approximately 20% of patients who have a stroke associated with AF are first diagnosed with AF at the time of the stroke or shortly thereafter.

OBJECTIVE

To update its 2018 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review on the benefits and harms of screening for AF in older adults, the accuracy of screening tests, the effectiveness of screening tests to detect previously undiagnosed AF compared with usual care, and the benefits and harms of anticoagulant therapy for the treatment of screen-detected AF in older adults.

POPULATION

Adults 50 years or older without a diagnosis or symptoms of AF and without a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke.

EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

The USPSTF concludes that evidence is lacking, and the balance of benefits and harms of screening for AF in asymptomatic adults cannot be determined.

RECOMMENDATION

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for AF. (I statement).

E-Cigarettes and Cardiopulmonary Health: Review for Clinicians

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery powered electronic nicotine delivery systems that use a propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin base to deliver vaporized nicotine and flavorings to the body. E-cigarettes became commercially available without evidence regarding their risks, long-term safety, or utility in smoking cessation. Recent clinical trials suggest that e-cigarette use with counseling may be effective in reducing cigarette use but not nicotine dependence. However, meta-analyses of observational studies demonstrate that e-cigarette use is not associated with smoking cessation. Cardiovascular studies reported sympathetic activation, vascular stiffening, and endothelial dysfunction, which are associated with adverse cardiovascular events. The majority of pulmonary clinical trials in e-cigarette users included standard spirometry as the primary outcome measure, reporting no change in lung function. However, studies reported increased biomarkers of pulmonary disease in e-cigarette users. These studies were conducted in adults, but >30% of high school-age adolescents reported e-cigarette use. The effects of e-cigarette use on cardiopulmonary endpoints in adolescents and young adults remain unstudied. Because of adverse clinical findings and associations between e-cigarette use and increased incidence of respiratory diseases in people who have never smoked, large longitudinal studies are needed to understand the risk profile of e-cigarettes. Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, clinicians should monitor the health risks of e-cigarette use, discourage nonsmokers and adolescents from using e-cigarettes, and discourage smokers from engaging in dual use without cigarette reduction or cessation.

A personalized biomedical risk assessment infographic for people who smoke with COPD: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes 3 million deaths each year, yet 38% of COPD patients continue to smoke. Despite proof of effectiveness and universal guideline recommendations, smoking cessation interventions are underused in practice. We sought to develop an infographic featuring personalized biomedical risk assessment through future lung function decline prediction (with vs without ongoing smoking) to both prompt and enhance clinician delivery of smoking cessation advice and pharmacotherapy, and augment patient motivation to quit.

METHODS

We recruited patients with COPD and pulmonologists from a quaternary care center in Toronto, Canada. Infographic prototype content and design was based on best evidence. After face validation, the prototype was optimized through rapid-cycle design. Each cycle consisted of: (1) infographic testing in a moderated focus group and a clinician interview (recorded/transcribed) (with questionnaire completion); (2) review of transcripts for emergent/critical findings; and (3) infographic modifications to address findings (until no new critical findings emerged). We performed iterative transcript analysis after each cycle and a summative qualitative transcript analysis with quantitative (descriptive) questionnaire analysis.

RESULTS

Stopping criteria were met after 4 cycles, involving 20 patients (58% male) and 4 pulmonologists (50% male). The following qualitative themes emerged: Tool content (infographic content preferences); Tool Design (infographic design preferences); Advantages of Infographic Messaging (benefits of an infographic over other approaches); Impact of Tool on Determinants of Smoking Cessation Advice Delivery (impact on barriers and enablers to delivery of smoking cessation advice in practice); and Barriers and Enablers to Quitting (impact on barriers and enablers to quitting). Patient Likert scale ratings of infographic content and format/usability were highly positive, with improvements in scores for 20/21 questions through the design process. Providers scored the infographic at 77.8% ("superior") on the Suitability Assessment of Materials questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a user preference-based personalized biomedical risk assessment infographic to drive smoking cessation in patients with COPD. Our findings suggest that this tool could impact behavioural determinants of provider smoking-cessation advice delivery, while increasing patient quit motivation. Impacts of the tool on provider care, patient motivation to quit, and smoking cessation success should now be evaluated in real-world settings.

Preconception cannabis use: An important but overlooked public health issue

Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit drug among pregnant women in the United States, and the prevalence and frequency of prenatal cannabis use are increasing. The preconception period – typically thought of as the 3-12 months immediately preceding pregnancy – is a distinct and critical period for women’s health that has often been overlooked when examining prenatal cannabis use. Given that substance use behaviors typically develop before pregnancy, and risk factors associated with prenatal cannabis use are often present prior to conception, preventive approaches to addressing prenatal cannabis use would benefit from focusing on women who use cannabis prior to pregnancy. In order to ensure preconception cannabis use is brought to the forefront of cannabis prevention efforts, we recommend additional research, patient education, and clinician training focused on preconception cannabis use.

A Student Walks into Class … Vignettes to Identify Substance Use Disorder Models of Illness among College Students

INTRODUCTION

Illness models, including illness recognition, perceived severity, and perceived nature can affect treatment-seeking behaviors. Vignettes are a leading approach to examine models of illness but are understudied for substance use disorders (SUDs). We created vignettes for multiple common DSM-5 SUDs and assessed SUD illness models among college students.

METHODS

Seven vignettes in which the protagonist meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for SUDs involving tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, Adderall, cocaine, Vicodin, and heroin were pilot tested and randomly assigned to 216 college students who completed measures related to illness recognition, perceived severity, and perceived nature. MANOVAs with Scheffe post-hoc tests were conducted to examine vignette group differences on models of illness.

RESULTS

Vignettes met acceptable levels of clarity and plausibility. Participants characterized the protagonist's substance use as a problem, a SUD, or an addiction most frequently with Vicodin, heroin, and cocaine and least frequently with tobacco and cannabis. Participants assigned to the Vicodin, heroin, and cocaine vignettes were the most likely to view the protagonist's situation as serious and life-threatening, whereas those assigned to the cannabis vignette were the least likely. Numerically more participants characterized the pattern of substance use as a problem (91%) or an addiction (90%) than a SUD (76%), while only 15% characterized it as a chronic medical condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Illness recognition and perceived severity varied across substances and were lowest for cannabis. Few participants conceptualized SUDs as chronic medical conditions. College students may benefit from psychoeducation regarding cannabis use disorder and the chronic medical condition model of SUDs.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Smokers with Acute Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: An International Survey

INTRODUCTION

Smoking prevalence is twice as high among patients admitted to hospital because of the acute condition of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) as in the general population. Smoking cessation may improve the prognosis of aSAH, but nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) administered at the time of aSAH remains controversial because of potential adverse effects such as cerebral vasospasm. We investigated the international practice of NRT use for aSAH among neurosurgeons.

METHODS

The online SurveyMonkey software was used to administer a 15-question, 5-min online questionnaire. An invitation link was sent to those 1425 of 1988 members of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) who agreed to participate in surveys to assess treatment strategies for withdrawal of tobacco smoking during aSAH. Factors contributing to physicians' posture towards NRT were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 158 physicians from 50 nations participated in the survey (response rate 11.1%); 68.4% (108) were affiliated with university hospitals and 67.7% (107) practiced at high-volume neurovascular centers with at least 30 treated aSAH cases per year. Overall, 55.7% (88) of physicians offered NRT to smokers with aSAH, 22.1% (35) offered non-NRT support including non-nicotine medication and counselling, while the remaining 22.1% (35) did not actively support smoking cessation. When smoking was not possible, 42.4% (67) of physicians expected better clinical outcomes when prescribing NRT instead of nicotine deprivation, 36.1% (57) were uncertain, 13.9% (22) assumed unaffected outcomes, and 7.6% (12) assumed worse outcomes. Only 22.8% (36) physicians had access to a local smoking cessation team in their practice, of whom half expected better outcomes with NRT as compared to deprivation.

CONCLUSIONS

A small majority of the surveyed physicians of the EANS offered NRT to support smoking cessation in hospitalized patients with aSAH. However, less than half believed that NRT could positively impact clinical outcome as compared to deprivation. This survey demonstrated the lack of consensus regarding use of NRT for hospitalized smokers with aSAH.

The value of compassionate support to address smoking: A qualitative study with people who experience severe mental illness

INTRODUCTION

People experiencing severe mental illness (SMI) smoke at much higher rates than the general population and require additional support. Engagement with existing evidence-based interventions such as quitlines and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may be improved by mental health peer worker involvement and tailored support. This paper reports on a qualitative study nested within a peer researcher-facilitated tobacco treatment trial that included brief advice plus, for those in the intervention group, tailored quitline callback counseling and combination NRT. It contextualizes participant life experience and reflection on trial participation and offers insights for future interventions.

METHODS

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 participants in a randomized controlled trial (intervention group n = 15, control group n = 14) following their 2-month (post-recruitment) follow-up assessments, which marked the end of the "Quitlink" intervention for those in the intervention group. Interviews explored the experience of getting help to address smoking (before and during the trial), perceptions of main trial components including assistance from peer researchers and tailored quitline counseling, the role of NRT, and other support received. A general inductive approach to analysis was applied.

RESULTS

We identified four main themes: (1) the long and complex journey of quitting smoking in the context of disrupted lives; (2) factors affecting quitting (desire to quit, psychological and social barriers, and facilitators and reasons for quitting); (3) the perceived benefits of a tailored approach for people with mental ill-health including the invitation to quit and practical resources; and (4) the importance of compassionate delivery of support, beginning with the peer researchers and extended by quitline counselors for intervention participants. Subthemes were identified within each of these overarching main themes.

DISCUSSION

The findings underscore the enormity of the challenges that our targeted population face and the considerations needed for providing tobacco treatment to people who experience SMI. The data suggest that a tailored tobacco treatment intervention has the potential to assist people on a journey to quitting, and that compassionate support encapsulating a recovery-oriented approach is highly valued.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The Quitlink trial was registered with ANZCTR (www.anzctr.org.au): ACTRN12619000244101 prior to the accrual of the first participant and updated regularly as per registry guidelines.

In vivo Experience With NRT to Increase Adherence and Smoking Abstinence Among Individuals in the Criminal Legal System: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

While tobacco use among individuals involved in the criminal legal system remains 3-4 times higher than the general population, few interventions have been targeted for this population to aid in smoking cessation. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a relatively effective and accessible smoking cessation aid; however, individuals frequently stop use of NRT early due to side effects and misperceptions about the products. The present study aims to address low medication adherence by examining the efficacy of an "in vivo" NRT sampling experience in individuals under community criminal legal supervision.

METHODS

Following recruitment through community legal outlets, participants (N = 517) are randomized to either an "in vivo NRT sampling" group or a standard smoking cessation behavioral counseling group. The in vivo group uses NRT in session and discusses perceptions and experiences of using NRT in real time while the standard smoking cessation counseling group receives four sessions of standard behavioral smoking cessation counseling. Both groups receive four intervention sessions and 12 weeks of NRT following the intervention. The 6-month post-intervention primary outcome measures are smoking point-prevalence abstinence and medication adherence.

CONCLUSION

This is a novel smoking cessation intervention specifically aimed at increasing NRT adherence and smoking cessation among those involved in the criminal legal system, a group of individuals with high smoking rates and low rates of pharmacotherapy use. If proven effective, the present treatment could be a novel intervention to implement in criminal legal settings given the minimal requirement of resources and training.This trial is registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov-NCT02938403.

System-Level Quality Improvement Initiatives for Tobacco Use in a Safety-Net Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction:

The shift from in-person care to telemedicine made it challenging to provide guideline-recommended tobacco cessation care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We described quality improvement (QI) initiatives for tobacco cessation during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on African American/Black patients with high smoking rates.

Methods:

The QI initiatives took place in the San Francisco Health Network, a network of 13 safety-net clinics in San Francisco, California between February 2020 and February 2022. We conducted direct patient outreach by telephone and increased staff capacity to increase cessation care delivery. We examined trends in tobacco screening, provider counseling, and best practice for cessation care (ie, the proportion of patients receiving at least 1 smoking cessation service during a clinical encounter).

Results:

In-person visits at the onset of the pandemic was 20% in April 2020 and increased to 67% by February 2022. During this time, tobacco screening increased from 29% to 74%. From March 2020 to March 2021, 34% more patients received provider counseling by telephone than in-person. The trend reversed from April 2021 to February 2022, where 23% more patients received counseling in-person than by telehealth. Best practice care increased by 23% from June 2020 to February 2022: 24% for African American/Black patients and 23% for other patients.

Conclusions:

Telehealth adaptations to the EHR, targeted outreach to patients, and a multi-disciplinary medical team may be associated with increases in cessation care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.