Nicotine dependence treatment: perceived health status improvement with 1-year continuous smoking abstinence.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated change in health status as a function of change in smoking status among patients treated clinically for nicotine dependence by comparing overall perceived health status of patients who abstained from cigarettes for 1 year versus those who smoked continuously for 1 year.


METHODS
Patients from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center completed a quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-36) following their consultation for nicotine dependence (baseline). At 1 year post-intervention, patients were mailed a follow-up survey that included the SF-36 and items assessing interval smoking history. Study patients included those who self-reported continuous smoking (n=60) and those reporting continuous smoking abstinence for the entire follow-up year (n=146). Data from SF-36 scales at 1 year were analysed using analysis of covariance with baseline scale scores serving as covariates along with baseline characteristics that differed significantly between groups.


RESULTS
Compared with those who continued to smoke, patients who were continuously abstinent from smoking for the entire year had more improvement in perceived health status for the SF-36 mental composite scale (P=0.009) and for the SF-36 subscales for role limitations (P<0.001 and P=0.017 for emotional and physical role limitations, respectively), social functioning (P=0.010) and general health (P=0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
Smokers treated for nicotine dependence who stop smoking for a year report more improvement in-quality-of-life compared with those who continue to smoke.
Croghan
Ivana T
IT
Nicotine Research Program, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. croghan.ivana@mayo.edu
Schroeder
Darrell R
DR
Hays
J Taylor
JT
Eberman
Kay M
KM
Patten
Christi A
CA
Berg
Emily J
EJ
Hurt
Richard D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology