title: Predictors of smoking relapse after noncardiac surgery. Study of Perioperative Ischemia (SPI) Research Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied 235 smokers who were admitted for major noncardiac surgery and who survived hospitalization to determine the frequency and predictors of smoking relapse 1 year after hospitalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data collected prospectively from the Study of Perioperative Ischemia. We determined smoking status by self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months posthospitalization, 142 (76%) of the 186 surviving patients had resumed smoking. Significant independent predictors of relapse at 12 months were a history of alcohol abuse and a history of heavy cigarette smoking (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since smokers commonly undergo surgery, the perioperative period provides a valuable window of opportunity for smoking cessation interventions designed to decrease the high rate of smoking relapse after surgery.
authors.affiliation: General Internal Medicine Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco 94121.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Browner
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Mangano
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology