title: Tobacco dependence treatment for hospitalized smokers: a randomized, controlled, pilot trial using varenicline.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hospital can be an important opportunity for smoking cessation interventions. This is the first randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial utilizing varenicline and post-discharge, in-person behavioral treatment for hospitalized smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine smokers admitted to a university-based hospital with various diagnoses were enrolled from 2007 to 2009. The primary outcome was biochemically confirmed abstinence at 24 weeks following discharge. Secondary outcomes included withdrawal symptoms, motivation, utilization of treatment, and medical events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall abstinence at 24 weeks was 27% with no difference between varenicline and placebo treatment groups (23% vs. 31%). There were no significant differences in motivation to stop smoking or withdrawal symptoms. Over 40% of all subjects utilized post-discharge behavioral treatment with significantly higher abstinence rates compared with those who did not (53.1% vs. 8.5%, p<0.01). Overall adverse events were similar in both treatment groups with the only significant difference being more nausea in the varenicline group (25% vs. 5%; p<0.01). Twenty-three subjects were re-hospitalized with no significant differences between treatment groups (13 varenicline vs. 10 placebo).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot trial of varenicline in hospitalized smokers demonstrated feasibility of implementation, produced some hypothesis-generating findings, and suggested the potential benefit of face-to-face treatment following discharge.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey--Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, Suite 2304, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. michael.steinberg@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greenhaus
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Schmelzer
authors.forename: Donna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003376:Counseling; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000068580:Varenicline; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068580:Varenicline