Reduction of risk of dying from tobacco-related diseases after quitting smoking in Italy

Examining Tobacco Treatment Perceptions and Barriers among Black versus Non-Black Adults Attending Lung Cancer Screening

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening for patients at high risk based on age and smoking history. Understanding the characteristics of patients attending lung cancer screening, including potential barriers to quitting smoking, may inform ways to engage these high-risk patients in tobacco treatment and address health disparities. Patients attending lung cancer screening who currently smoke cigarettes completed a survey at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven (N = 74) and the Medical University of South Carolina (N = 73) at the time of their appointment. The survey assessed demographics, smoking history, and perceptions and concerns about quitting smoking.

Patients were 55 to 76 years old (mean = 63.3, SD = 5.3), N = 64 (43.5%) female, and N = 31 (21.1%) non-Hispanic Black. Patients smoked 16.3 cigarettes per day on average (SD = 9.2) and rated interest in quitting smoking in the next month as moderate (mean = 5.6, SD = 3.1, measured from 0 = "very definitely no" to 10 = "very definitely yes"). The most frequently endorsed concerns about quitting smoking were missing smoking (70.7%), worry about having strong urges to smoke (63.9%), and concerns about withdrawal symptoms (59.9%). In comparison with other races/ethnicities, Black patients were less likely to report concerns about withdrawal symptoms and more likely to report smoking less now and perceiving no need to quit. Findings identified specific barriers for tobacco treatment and differences by race/ethnicity among patients attending lung cancer screening, including concerns about withdrawal symptoms and perceived need to quit. Identifying ways to promote tobacco treatment is important for reducing morbidity and mortality among this high-risk population.

PREVENTION RELEVANCE

The current study examines patient characteristics and tobacco treatment perceptions and barriers among patients attending lung cancer screening who continue to smoke cigarettes that may help inform ways to increase treatment engagement and address tobacco-related health disparities to reduce morbidity and mortality from smoking.

Lifetime Smoking History and Risk of Lung Cancer: Results From the Framingham Heart Study

Background

The relative risk of lung cancer decreases with years since quitting (YSQ) smoking, but risk beyond 25 YSQ remains unclear. Current lung cancer screening guidelines, which exclude smokers with more than 15 YSQ, may not detect lung cancers in this population.

Methods

We analyzed data from Framingham Heart Study Original (n = 3905) and Offspring cohort (n = 5002) participants for lifetime smoking and lung cancer incidence from 1954 to 1958 (Exam 4) and 1971 to 1975 (Exam 1), respectively, through 2013. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models to compare current, former, and never smokers and lung cancer risk. Smoking status and covariates were time-updated every two years (Original) or four years (Offspring). Primary analyses were restricted to heavy ever smokers with more than 21.3 pack-years; additional analyses included all ever smokers.

Results

On follow-up (median = 28.7 years), 284 lung cancers were detected: incidence rates/1000 person-years in current, former, and never smokers were 1.97 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.66 to 2.33), 1.61 (95% CI = 1.34 to 1.93), and 0.26 (95% CI = 0.17 to 0.39), respectively. Heavy former (vs never) smokers had elevated lung cancer risk at all YSQ (<5: hazard ratio [HR] = 12.12, 95% CI = 6.94 to 21.17; 5-9: HR = 11.77, 95% CI = 6.78 to 20.45; 10-14: HR = 7.81, 95% CI = 3.98 to 15.33; 15-24: HR = 5.88, 95% CI = 3.19-10.83; ≥25: HR = 3.85, 95% CI = 1.80 to 8.26). Heavy former (vs current) smokers had 39.1% lower lung cancer risk within five YSQ. Among all former smokers, 40.8% of lung cancers occurred after more than 15 YSQ.

Conclusions

Among heavy former smokers, lung cancer risk drops within five YSQ relative to continuing smokers, yet it remains more than threefold higher than never smokers after 25 YSQ. Four of ten lung cancers occurred in former smokers with more 15 YSQ, beyond the screening window of the current guideline.

Improved outcomes in ex-smokers with COPD: a UK primary care observational cohort study

Smoking cessation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reduces accelerated forced expiratory volume in 1 s decline, but impact on key health outcomes is less clear. We studied the relationship of smoking status to mortality and hospitalisation in a UK primary care COPD population.Using patient-anonymised routine data in the Hampshire Health Record Analytical Database, we identified a prevalent COPD cohort, categorising patients by smoking status (current, ex- or never-smokers). Three outcomes were measured over 3 years (2011-2013): all-cause mortality, respiratory-cause unplanned hospital admission and respiratory-cause emergency department attendance. Survival analysis using multivariable Cox regression after multiple imputation was used to estimate hazard ratios for each outcome by smoking status, adjusting for measured confounders (including age, lung function, socioeconomic deprivation, inhaled medication and comorbidities).We identified 16 479 patients with COPD, mean±sd age 70.1±11.1 years. Smoking status was known in 91.3%: 35.1% active smokers, 54.3% ex-smokers, 1.9% never-smokers. Active smokers predominated among younger patients. Compared with active smokers (n=5787), ex-smokers (n=8941) had significantly reduced risk of death, hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.78 (0.70-0.87), hospitalisation, 0.82 (0.74-0.89) and emergency department attendance, 0.78 (0.70-0.88).After adjusting for confounders, ex-smokers had significantly better outcomes, emphasising the importance of effective smoking cessation support, regardless of age or lung function.