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.
Cardiac Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
K
K
Robinson
R M
RM
Conroy
R
R
Mulcahy
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