title: The prevalence of smoking amongst patients attending an out-patient lipid clinic.
abstract: The smoking habits of 184 attendees (mean age 47 years, 101 men) at a hospital-based lipid clinic were reviewed in conjunction with a measurement of serum thiocyanate level which is a marker for smoking over the previous two weeks. Advice against smoking is routinely given at the clinic. We found 84 (46%) patients to remain active smokers of whom 78 admitted to smoking and 6 were identified on the basis of a serum thiocyanate level greater than 100 micromol/l. Smoking was more prevalent amongst women than men (52% v 33%). We have identified a high proportion of patients attending an outpatient lipid clinic as remaining active smokers despite receiving advice against cigarette smoking. This emphasises the need for more effective counselling against smoking in a multiple risk factor intervention approach to ischaemic heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Riemersma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013861:Thiocyanates; C031760:thiocyanate