When does the risk of acute coronary heart disease in ex-smokers fall to that in non-smokers? A retrospective study of patients admitted to hospital with a first episode of myocardial infarction or unstable angina.
Nine hundred and seventy eight patients admitted with a first myocardial infarction or episode of unstable angina were studied to determine for how long after they gave up smoking did the risk in ex-smokers continue to resemble those of current smokers. Logistic regression was used to calculate a score, based on a combination of age, cholesterol, and hypertension, that separated current smokers from lifetime non-smokers. When this function was applied to ex-smokers, only those who had given up at least 15 years before the attack had a risk factor profile similar to that of non-smokers. Those who had given up less than five years before the ischaemic attack had a significantly higher level of other risk factors than current smokers; those who had stopped for between five and 15 years had levels similar to those of current smokers. Ex-smokers are at higher risk of acute coronary disease for at least 15 years after stopping, but some immediate reduction in risk is possible.
Robinson
K
K
Cardiac Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Conroy
R M
RM
Mulcahy
R
R
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors