No gender difference in effectiveness of smoking cessation treatment in a Brazilian real-life setting.
BACKGROUND
The clinical effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in real-life settings has yet to be evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of bupropion in general clinical practice for smoking cessation and to identify predictors of failure.


METHODS
In an open, non-randomised study, smokers were recruited at the Smoking Cessation Clinics, Hospital Sao Lucas, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Subjects participated in a motivational group meeting, completed a standardised questionnaire and Fagerstrom test, and had their vital signs and exhaled CO registered. All participants received a prescription of bupropion and the same cognitive behaviour therapy. They attended eight weekly individual sessions, then monthly until the sixth month and a final session at month 12. The primary outcome measure was the rate of abstinence at 12 months. The predictor factors studied were sex, age, educational level, nicotine dependence, previous attempts and comorbidities.


RESULTS
Among 253 smokers (62.5% females), abstinence rates at 6 months were 20.8% for males and 22.7% for females. The success rates dropped to 13.9% and 14.3% for males and females, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive therapy plus bupropion for smoking cessation in real-life clinics in Brazil were similar to the efficacy found in clinical trials. No significant gender differences in success rates were found.
Chatkin
J M
JM
Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. jmchatkin@pucrs.br
Abreu
C M
CM
Blanco
D C
DC
Tonietto
R
R
Scaglia
N
N
Wagner
M B
MB
Fritscher
C C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion