The efficacy of smoking cessation therapies in cardiac patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Several meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of smoking cessation therapies in the general population. However, little is known about the efficacy of these therapies in cardiac patients. Therefore, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to determine the efficacy of behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in cardiac patients.


METHODS
The medical literature was systematically reviewed to identify smoking cessation RCTs in cardiac patients. Only RCTs that reported smoking abstinence at six or 12 months were included. Smoking abstinence was examined based on the 'most rigorous criterion', defined as the most conservative outcome reported in any given RCT.


RESULTS
Eleven behavioural therapy RCTs that enrolled 2105 patients and four pharmacotherapy RCTs that enrolled 1542 patients were identified. RCTs differed in the type of behavioural therapy administered as well as the total length and duration of the intervention. RCTs differed in the type of pharmacotherapy administered (one nicotine patch RCT, one nicotine gum RCT and two bupropion RCTs). Behavioural therapy was associated with a significantly higher proportion of smoking abstinence than usual care (OR 1.97 [95% CI 1.37 to 2.85]). Pharmacotherapies were more efficacious than placebo (pooled OR 1.72 [95% CI 1.15 to 2.57]).


CONCLUSIONS
Both behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy are more efficacious than usual care for smoking cessation in cardiac patients. The present meta-analysis highlights the need for head-to-head RCTs to identify which smoking cessation therapy is preferred in cardiac patients as well as RCTs examining the efficacy of combined behavioural and pharmacotherapies.
Division of Cardiology, Jewish General Hospital/McGill University, 3755 Cote Ste. Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. mark.eisenberg@mcgill.ca
Mark J
MJ
Eisenberg
Lisa M
LM
Blum
Kristian B
KB
Filion
Stephane
S
Rinfret
Louise
L
Pilote
Gilles
G
Paradis
Lawrence
L
Joseph
André
A
Gervais
Jennifer
J
O'Loughlin
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion